Is This Just a Prolem in the Uk?

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We are at the bottom of the league table in terms of bathing status water quality. In 20 20, 17 % of our rivers and coastal areas that were given bathing status were of excellent quality. That compares to about 80% in other countries in europe. And poland is nearly as bad as os thereabout 22%. But we have to also bear in mind that globaly, 80 per cent of waste water isn't properly treated.

Holidaymakers heading to British beaches and rivers were faced with a very unpleasant problem this summer – raw sewage. The sewage system usually carries rainwater and dirty wastewater from bathrooms and kitchens to treatment works but during ‘exceptional events’ such as heavy rainfall, when it is likely to be overwhelmed, raw sewage can be diverted and discharged into rivers and seas. Available data shows that in 2021, water companies released untreated sewage into waterways for 2.7m hours – with many discharge pipe monitors not working or left uninstalled. Madeleine Finlay speaks to reporter Helena Horton about why this is happening, and the damage it is doing to the environment, our health, and the UK’s seafood industry. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod