EXTINCTION Rebellion campaigners were today gathering outside Warrington based United Utilities’ AGM to protest against the levels of sewage dumping destroying rivers, lakes and seas.
The gathering of protesters includes local health professionals, wild swimmers, boaters, dog-walkers, anglers and environmental groups who have had enough of seeing their local blue spaces polluted by sewage. The Dirty Water campaign is part of Extinction Rebellion’s continued alliance-building work that started with the Big One in April, when over 200 partner organisations came together in central London to demand action on the climate crisis.
Data published by the Environment Agency has shown that in 2022, United Utilities were responsible for over 425,000 hours of untreated sewage being released into our waterways – more than any other water company. Polluting pays: in the same period the water company reported operating profits of £610 million and paid out £296 million in dividends.(1)
Hannah Stanton, a teacher and member of Extinction Rebellion Trafford, said, “The crisis in our waterways is a result of corporate greed that sees executives and shareholders pocketing huge payouts while workers’ pay is squeezed, our infrastructure crumbles, wildlife dies and our environment is wrecked. In 2018 it was revealed that the CEO of United Utilities had earned an eye-watering £12 million in the previous five years. In 2022 alone he earned over £3 million. It’s an absolute disgrace that hard-pressed customers’ money is being spent on fat cat bonuses while our rivers and seas are full of turds and tampons. People have had enough!”
Renate Aspden, 60, a dissatisfied United Utilities customer and keen walker, said, “On my United Utilities bill it states clearly that I get charged for wastewater usage: ‘the cost of collecting your dirty water, CLEANING it and returning it to the environment’. Well, that’s clearly not happening effectively. United Utilities is in breach of its contract with all of its customers. This has to stop now! How can they pay out millions to investors and then tell us it is too expensive to invest in new infrastructure?”
The prioritisation of profit for shareholders and directors over the needs of workers and the environment has also been cited by the GMB union as one of the reasons behind United Utilities workers’ recent decision to take strike action. GMB members at United Utilities are demanding a better deal on pay and more investment in infrastructure in order to clean up the waterways. (2)
The detrimental impacts of sewage discharges on human health are very concerning. According to Dr David McKelvey, a Manchester GP, “Swimming in water polluted by raw sewage can have terrible health consequences. Illnesses like gastroenteritis, dysentery or hepatitis can be caught from water infected in this way. Other infections of the skin, eyes and ears occur more commonly too. Being near water usually has a great mental health benefit – however knowing, and at times, seeing, that water polluted by sewage can have a real negative impact on that mental health benefit. Our health needs clean rivers!”
Mark Barrow, an underwater filmmaker at Beneath British Rivers, said, “Freshwater holds some of the richest biodiversity on Earth – it’s the start of all life and a lifeline for us, yet water companies just fail to see it. In some areas, including the River Tame, I film more sewage litter than fish. You cannot place profit before nature but sadly this is what is happening because of the lack of will by the government and water companies to do what is right. Be warned the freshwater environment will collapse if this pathway is not altered.”
There have been protests about sewage pollution across the UK in recent months, with an April poll by River Action finding that 94% of the British public support the drive for healthy rivers by 2030, and almost half saying their voting decision will be influenced if healthy rivers are a top priority in a political party’s manifesto. Geraldine Coggins, Green Party General Election candidate for Altrincham and Sale West, said, “The water companies cannot continue to be rewarded for failure and the polluter should pay – not the public. We should cut payouts to shareholders and ensure water bosses earn no more than ten times the salary of their lowest paid staff. We need to stop sewage pouring into our rivers, end leaks and cut bills. Taking the water companies back into public hands is the best way to fix our broken system.”
The protest featured an array of colourful poo-themed costumes and props, shareholders were invited to walk the brown carpet and a Golden Turd award presented to United Utilities to mark their status as the water company with the highest number of hours of sewage discharged last year.
A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “The views of all our customers and shareholders are important to us and we fully respect the rights of those who wish to protest.
“We know that people want to see action to improve river health and today we have outlined our plans for the biggest environmental improvement programme we have ever delivered. We are starting early on £1.5 billion of investment over the next two years, building on the 40% reduction of storm overflow operation we’ve already achieved since 2020.”
