Bristol Live readers have shared their thoughts on the recent revelation that councillors have unanimously supported a motion to clean up Bristol’s rivers, following reports that the city ranks as the fourth-worst in the UK for sewage spills. Wessex Water, which backed the motion at the full council meeting, stated that while it agrees more action is needed to enhance water quality, storm overflows are often caused by factors outside its control.
The company also mentioned that terms like “dumping raw sewage” were “unhelpful” and not accurate, suggesting the issue is more about poor rainwater management. The motion received further support from the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust and the Conham Bathing Group.
Councillor Nicholas Coombes (Liberal Democrat, Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze) proposed the motion at the Bristol City Council meeting, highlighting that Wessex Water “dumped sewage” 41,453 times, amounting to 372,341 hours in 2023. He pointed out that Bristol’s rivers – including the Avon, Frome, Malago, Trym, and Brislington Brook – are at risk of increased sewage discharges.
The motion calls for the government to replace Ofwat with a stronger regulator possessing enhanced powers to inspect water companies and farms, increase prosecutions for violations, and provide additional funding for Natural England and the Environment Agency. Following this, the local authority’s environment policy committee will be tasked with collaborating with the One City Environment Board partners to develop policies aimed at improving water quality.
One of our readers, Mictorveldrew had this to say: “Ten minutes showers don’t cause sewage overflows.”
Mudplug believes: “The trunk sewer serving Hanham, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Willsbridge, Bitton and all areas in between was overflowing every time it rained in 1980, since when huge numbers of houses have been connected to the same system. A complete new system the size the existing one is required to actually stop this.”
BMushroom adds: “Great to see BCC moving forward now that the public did their duty.”
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Fuocoardente asks: “Number 1s (ones) or number 2s (twos)? Just asking on behalf of someone who has mates in the water industry.”
Thecookedsock – Tory voters will be confused and upset to see politicians voting against allowing the previous Tory Government mates in the water industry to dump raw sewage and human waste into our water and rivers. Especially after every single Tory MP voted to allow their mates in the water industry to dump human waste and raw sewage into our water and rivers.”
pa.media replies: “292 Tory MPs did technically vote to allow sewage dumping in rivers until 2038. Great to see what a change in Government can achieve.”
6470 queries: “What i don’t understand is why do councillors always debate something they can’t do anything about. It’s not as if Bristol is a perfect place to live there are lots of things they could debate, for instant how about, the state of the roads, or Bristol Buses, the bus gates (or they should be called money gates) that nobody wants.”
Junius1 says: “The Metro today carries a lead story about sewage spills into rivers as a result of ‘bungled plumbing’, where domestic waste pipes, from toilets, washing machines etc. have been erroneously plumbed into surface water drainage pipes rather than pipes taking sewage to treatment works. In London, Thames Water has identified seven misconnections causing sewage spills into the River Brent. Are there any instances of this in Bristol?”
Antigov writes: “Water companies have plenty of money to carry on & get things sorted, then we can pay the bills don’t pay until it’s, sorted.”
Akoi adds: “All the dumping of sewage is unhelpful, the language that goes with it is justified, cause people are just fed up with it.”
So do you think this will solve this pollution? Let us know in the comments below or HERE.