BLAME THE WATER INDUSTRY?

Concerns about water company sewage discharges are normally linked to the viruses and bacteria that are contained in partially treated effluents. However, the attention could soon be focusing elsewhere as companies in England for the first time report on discharges of other contaminants such as mercury and cadmium from major sewage treatment works.

The Pollution Inventory, an Environment Agency initiative, details pollutants released from large industrial sites in England and focuses on 'core' substances known to be damaging to the environment, wildlife and public health. These substances have been chosen because of their propensity to bio-accumulate and persist in the environment. At certain concentrations all have the potential to affect the health of humans and wildlife.

These substances find their way into the sewerage system in a number of ways; From products used in the home, from licensed discharges to sewer and from contaminated rainfall washing off the streets. Conventional sewage treatment is not designed to remove these substances, yet with potentially hazardous substances being released into the environment it is vital that the discharge of these substances is controlled and minimised.

Vicky Garner of SAS said today;
" The blame should not fall at the water industry's feet alone. We have to ask whether it should be up to the water industry to develop technologies to remove these contaminants or whether there are other, more sustainable ways to do the job. The only way to do this is to involve all stakeholders in an open and honest debate ".

" In SAS' view we need to prevent these substances entering the sewer system in the first place, but the only way that is going to happen is if lifestyles and practises change ".