Shocking images shows swans being forced to feed and bathe in raw sewage that is reportedly being leaked into the River Avon.
Environmental lawyer and river campaigner Paul Powlesland was, ironically, travelling to speak to local clean river campaigners when he witnessed the ‘spill’ in Bath at the weekend.
He said there had been a short rainstorm, and bits of loo roll could clearly be seen coming out of the pipe next to a busy tow path on the River Avon.
Mr Powlesland – who founded the group Lawyers for Nature – said on X: ‘It’s hard to imagine a more shameful indictment of our sewage crisis than what I witnessed on the River Avon this afternoon.
‘A flock of swans and ducks feeding and cavorting in a plume of raw sewage, just a few hundred metres from the centre of the genteel City of Bath.
‘This huge sewage spill entered the river after a short 10 minute rainstorm of average intensity.’
A photo of the alleged spill that Paul Powlesland posted on social media
Mr Powlesland – who founded the group Lawyers for Nature – is a river campaigner
He continued: ‘I (somewhat ironically) spotted this spill on my way to speak to local river activists on the Avon.
‘I’ve encouraged them all to demand that both the @EnvAgency & the local authority @bathnes hold @wessexwater to account for their disgusting and disgraceful actions.’
Wessex Water provides water to 1.4 million customers and sewerage services to 2.9 million people in the south-west of England.
But the company has been subject to repeated criticism over its environmental record.
Earlier this year an advert about its plans to tackle storm overflows was labelled misleading because it failed to give key information about its record on sewage pollution.
In May 2023, the water company was fined £280,000 for supplying water unfit for human consumption for a three-week period in 2021.
And in summer 2023 it was told it ‘requires improvement’ after ‘five serious pollution incidents’, a report from the Environment Agency said.
Overall, there were 110 pollution incidents in 2022, up from 72 incidents the previous year, partly due to spills proactively reported by the company.
Mr Powlesland is not alone in his upset over sewage overflows and the issue has become a subject of national debate.
Just a few weeks ago, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water were told they face £168m fines by the industry regulator Ofwat over historic sewage spills.
Mr Powlesland said there had been a short rainstorm, and bits of loo roll could clearly be seen coming out of the pipe next to a busy tow path on the River Avon
A Google street view of the tow path by the River Avon in Bath
The announcement comes amid growing public anger over the environmental failure of some water companies.
Responding to Mr Powlesland’s Tweet, one X user said: ‘This needs a crisis meeting to expedite a national solution.
‘There is no, ‘we will look at it soon’. In what world politicians is this acceptable?’
Another said: ‘This breaks my heart.’
One added: ‘There is something very seriously wrong with the councils and governments for continuing to allow this to happen.
‘This is the sort of thing that was happening in 1624. Absolutely disgraceful.’
Another added: ‘Terrible. Couldn’t let my kid go swimming yesterday on the Isle of Wight because of human waste floating around..it’s a perfect example of unchecked capitalism.’
A spokesperson for Wessex Water said the storm overflow had operated as it is designed – to protect homes and businesses in Bath from flooding during heavy rainfall.
They added: ‘Our licensed storm overflows operate automatically, releasing mostly rainwater to protect properties from flooding. But while their environmental impact is minimal, we believe that storm overflows are outdated.
‘This is why we are investing £3 million a month to update our sewerage system and reduce overflows from operating – and we are planning to more than double our investment in this area during 2025-2030, subject to approval from our regulator Ofwat.’
