England is to move from EU water standards in a move that has been slammed by environmental campaigners.
EU water standards
The government is to diverge from the European Union’s standards for monitoring water quality, The Guardian has revealed today.
The paper reported that the government will be using its own, as yet undisclosed, methodology to assess river health.
In response, Liberal Democrats’ environment spokesperson, Tim Farron, said: “Instead of clamping down on sewage dumping, ministers have let water companies off the hook and scaled back assessments so we could know exactly how much damage has been done. It is frankly a disgrace. The whole system needs a complete overhaul. That means abolishing Ofwat and setting up a new regulator with real teeth and ensuring that testing is carried out regularly so we can get a full picture of the damage being done to our countryside.”
Ashley Smith, founder of Windrush Against Sewage Pollution, wrote: “Government has been dying to change the rules that show how wrecked our rivers are and here it comes – the only way it can see to make rivers better – by reclassifying bad as good.”
Feargal Sharkey has shared a ‘handy guide to illegal sewage dumping.”
Therese Coffey has cruel nickname
Is seems that Coffey has now been called Nellie the Effluent.
Environment Secretary Therese Coffey on why better assets were not in place to help residents hit by floods:
“Most of our rain comes from the West. This was rain coming from the other way. We don’t have quite as much experience on that.”
Related: Water companies to cut sewage spills but there is one big problem – reactions
