As South West Water defends a court action from a Devon swimmer, it also claims it has no legal duty to keep waters clean

I’ve just realised that this was already in /c/environment. Oops, sorry!

  • thehatfox@lemmy.worldEnglish
    63·
    7 months ago

    South West Water also claimed it has no legal responsibility to keep the rivers and sea in the counties clean and clear of sewage

    The fact that statement could even be made is pretty telling of the state we are in. It’s 2024, not 1524, dumping shit in the sea is something we should have long moved on from.

  • Fake4000@lemmy.worldEnglish
    351·
    7 months ago

    Why the fuck would a swimmer take that company to court.

    Apologies, but shouldn’t the government/council do that instead?

    • thr0w4w4y2@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      54·
      7 months ago

      councils have been bankrupted by successive cuts over the last decade such that its a miracle some can still collect bins.

      current government have no interest in causing trouble for their school friends, biggest party donors and future employment prospects.

      • IndiBrony@lemmy.worldEnglish
        26·
        7 months ago

        That whole comment amused the hell out of me because that’s what’s happening here. I live in South Tyneside and our bin men have been on strike since before Christmas. Nothing to do with the council running out of money, but down to one of the higher ups being a huge workplace bully and the council won’t kick him out.

        It’s gotten so bad that there are now several skips dotted all over South Tyneside where people are expected to turn up and dump their overflowing rubbish.

        The whole area is turning into one massive tip all because of one asshole the council refuse to do anything about.

        https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51d797y7p2o

        • thr0w4w4y2@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          6·
          6 months ago

          that sucks. I was born in Leeds but moved away years ago. Sorry to hear it has got so bad. Maybe occupy Marsden Grotto with have a pint of dog and wait until it all blows over

      • Nester@feddit.ukEnglish
        11·
        7 months ago

        It’s funny you should say that, because my local council are currently struggling to collect bins. They haven’t collected to bins for the cafe that’s attached to my workplace for about 2 weeks now. It’s getting grim.

      • TWeaK@feddit.ukEnglish
        4·
        7 months ago

        Also the current government are entirely to blame here, the main reason water companies dump so much sewage is that they’ve been less able to get the chemicals they use to treat the water since Brexit.