A team of Royal Academy of Engineering scientists say the risk from human faeces is increasing.

Human faeces in our rivers is putting the public in danger and the risk will increase without action, the UK’s top engineers and scientists have warned in a report.

The report led by the Royal Academy of Engineering called for an upgrade of the UK’s sewage system and more widespread testing of the country’s waterways.

Despite improvements in the UK’s water quality, external over the last thirty years, raw sewage overflowing into rivers and seas remains a persistent problem. Last year on average there were 1,271 spills a day in England - a doubling on the previous year.

Consumption of water contaminated with human faeces exposes people to bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli which cause diarrhoea and vomiting or viruses like hepatitis A which can lead to liver infection.

    • Sony D Bampot@lemmy.worldOPM
      5·
      1 month ago

      It is not quite as the BBC (as usual) tries to skew the story a wholly UK wide problem, it is a problem in England simply because England has privatised water and the private utility companies involved skim the profits off the top without reinvesting in infrastructure.

      In Scotland water is nationalised ,although not perfect as there is still some farm run off and leaching along with a certain amount of storm drain overflowing during severe weather,most rivers are pretty good and there is no effluent in the drinking water.

      • Eheran@lemmy.world
        1·
        1 month ago

        Amazing that there are no laws in place to prevent them from just letting literal shit go out the window.