SAS supported the Environment Agency’s proposed conditions, which didn’t require excessive investment. Yet incredible, after 20 years of leniency, rather than embrace the decision with good grace the water companies involved appealed against 94% of the discharge consents! The appeal was brought before the Planning Inspector by; Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water, Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru, Thames Water and Severn Trent Water.

This missed opportunity and weak decision from the Planning Inspector must be a real blow to the Environment Agency staff that invested a huge amount of time and effort in bring this case before the inspectorate. We hope this will not deter the Environment Agency from commissioning other similarly vital steps to help protect and improve the environment.

On the opening day of the appeal, the 19th of January 2010, SAS greeted the water companies’ executives as they entered the appeal hearing to present their case with a huge image of what these CSOs actually look like, emblazoned simply with the word “Appealing?”

SAS are furious that these companies have been allowed to continue to pollute without fear of prosecution. They’ve had twenty years notice that these CSOs will have to be regulated, yet rather than face the music, once again they’ve shown utter disregard for what’s best for the environment and recreational water users. Surfers are 3 times more at risk from hepatitis A than the average bather because of the immersion and ingestion associated with the sport.

SAS Executive Director, Hugo Tagholm says: “As a water user and on behalf of all SAS supporters I’m extremely disappointed. These profitable water companies have had plenty of notice about these improvements, but outrageously they mounted an appalling appeal which has helped prevent actions that could have improved our environment.”

Six water companies are trying to defend the indefensible, by appealing against designated discharge consents for 4,000 combined sewer overflows (CSOs). SAS were armed with a giant 6ft by 4ft photo of a CSO clogged full of sanitary towels, condoms, cotton buds sticks and more. The appeal is expected to last for 4 days.

Today SAS campaigners were in wetsuits with surfboards to welcome water company executives as they enter the appeal at the entrance to the Park Plaza Hotel, Cardiff. They were armed with a 6ft by 4ft image of a disgusting CSO jammed full of sanitary towels, condoms and worse.

The majority of water companies were aiming to escape environmental regulations set for thousands of their CSOs. The companies involved are; Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water, Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru, Thames Water and Severn Trent Water.

Whilst the majority of the 20,000 CSOs in England and Wales have seen some improvement and operate under a discharge to consent, there are many that are still operating on their own terms, causing unknown environmental damage. These unregulated CSOs were given temporary licences, known as deemed consents, to help speed up the process of privatising the water industry 20 years ago.

The water industry knew then, that at some point, these unregulated CSOs would have to be brought into line and earlier this year the Environment Agency set about the task of issuing new conditions for their use.

The Environment Agency conditions do not require excessive investment yet, after 20 years of leniency, rather than embrace the decision with good grace the water companies involved were appealing against 94% of the discharge consents!

SAS are furious that these companies believed they should be allowed to continue to pollute without fear of prosecution. They’ve had twenty years notice that these CSOs will have to be regulated, yet rather than face the music, they chose to protest en mass.

SAS has written to the Secretary of State for the Environment to express our concern both for the environment and public health should the water companies be successful in their appeal.

Andy Cummins, SAS Campaign Director says: “By Appealing these discharges the water companies are asking for a free rein to pollute our seas and rivers, that’s not appealing to us! The water companies have had 20 years to sort this out, in that time they’ve enjoyed handsome profits, isn’t it about time they looked after the environment and public health as well as their bottom line.”

30% of UK beaches failed to meet guideline standards, a shockingly high figure that confirms SAS’s fears that our bathing waters and surf spots are being contaminated by raw sewage discharging from Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). And yet water companies are appealing against Environment Agency attempts to regulate 4,000 unlicensed CSOs. This combination of bad news for the environment has inspired SAS to launch the new “Adopt A CSO” campaign. This initiative will warn beach users of the impacts CSOs could have on water quality and public health before they unwittingly expose themselves to potentially harmful pathogens.

SAS helped expose the shameful overuse of CSO’s around the UK in this summer’s Panorama programme “Britain’s Dirty Beaches”. Viewers registered their disbelief and disgust but, to add insult to injury, SAS have learnt that the majority of water companies have launched an action to ensure that thousands of their CSOs escape environmental regulations. These companies are Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water, Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru, Thames Water, Severn Trent Water and United Utilities.

Whilst the majority of the 20,000 CSOs in England and Wales have seen some improvement and operate under a discharge to consent, there are many that still operate on their own terms causing unknown environmental damage. These unregulated CSOs were given temporary licences, known as deemed consents, to help speed up the process of privatising the water industry 20 years ago.

The water industry knew then, that at some point, these unregulated CSOs would have to be brought into line and earlier this year the Environment Agency set about the task of issuing new conditions for their use.

The Environment Agency conditions do not require excessive investment yet, after 20 years of leniency, rather than embrace the decision with good grace the water companies involved have appealed against 94% of the discharge consents!

SAS are furious that these companies believe they should be allowed to continue to pollute without fear of prosecution. They’ve had twenty years notice that these CSOs will have to be regulated, yet rather than face the music, they choose to protest en mass.

SAS has written to the Secretary of State for the Environment to express our concern both for the environment and public health should the water companies be successful in their appeal.

Whilst we await the Secretary of State’s decision SAS will today launch the new “Adopt A CSO” initiative. SAS are urging their supporters to keep an eye on CSO’s discharging into local beaches and surf spots. CSO ‘fosterers’ will investigate potential sewage spills and report them to the Environment Agency. What sets this initiative apart from other schemes is CSO ‘fosterers’ will be asked to erect SAS’s new pollution warning signs, alerting water users of potential reductions in water quality. This will allow surfers and beach users alike to make informed decision about using the water before exposing themselves to potentially harmful pathogens. CSOs have been fostered in Cornwall, Devon, Bournemouth, Brighton, Scarborough, Saltburn By Sea, Wales and Scotland. Supporters are invited to contact SAS if they would like to adopt their local CSO.

SAS Campaign Manager, Andy Cummins says: “Once again the UK has failed to meet minimum standards set over 30 years ago for bathing water quality. SAS has been warning of poor results due to the UK’s over use of CSOs. This problem has gone on too long and SAS are calling on supporters to take action and adopt a CSO. If water companies are going to put water quality and public health at risk SAS will ensure the public are warned!”