- reality check.jpg (40.82 KiB) Viewed 24968 times
Ongoing Sewage Discharge Affects Norfolk Broads' River Ant...it is now a toxic open sewer where boaters are penalised for having petrol and diesel engines under the arbitrary unproven adage that climate change is brought about by burning fossil fuels. The Broads Authority repeatedly use this justification for consistently raising tolls way above the rate of current inflation, with zero evidence or qualifications to even be making those statements in the first place. Surely it would make sense to penalise Anglian Water for polluting the rivers with human waste and not having the technological ability to deal with flood waters. Whilst these inland waterways fill up with turds, flood residential areas and remain heavily toxic with chemicals, why on Earth are boat engines being targeted when they have been the staple mode of transport since the 1930s and beyond? This constant claim for promoting electric vessels is unrealistic, unaffordable, and unsustainable and even at publishing this article the electric power is turned off at Sutton Staithe. How being so-called environmentally friendly seems to suit the Broads Authority when the season comes around. How about they put the electricity on, and clear all the sewage out of the rivers along with all the chemicals that have flowed in? then maybe raising tolls in the name of climate change and environmental well-being may sound credible.
Large volumes of untreated sewage have been discharged into the River Ant, one of the main Norfolk Broads rivers, for a record nine days running as storms continue to batter the county. This has been due to a storm overflow from the Horning, Norfolk, outfall, according to current monitoring by Anglian Water, since November 19.
Anglian Water blames the chronic problem on high groundwater levels, which have refused to budge since the record rainfall of last year. A utility company spokesperson said, "Our commitment to the environment is steadfastly reflected in extensive investments and efforts to tackle the ongoing Combined Sewer Overflow problem."
Timeline of the Spill
According to reports from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, this pollution incident began before Storm Bert arrived. Next to the Knackers Wood sewage works is an overflow channel directly onto the River Ant, and this makes it particularly ecologically vulnerable in an area known for its sensitive environment.
Horning is a village lying across low-lying land in the Broads, and with that in mind, Anglian Water has to face the challenge uniquely of being on the verge of flooding most of the time, together with unstable soil conditions. Supporting information regarding this issue is provided through data from the Environment Agency, where the same overflow released effluents to the river for an enormous 1,747 hours over 91 incidents alone in 2023.
Challenges within the Infrastructure - Responses
Anglian Water explained that the storm overflow had been triggered largely due to the prolonged wet weather, adding that an upgrade at Horning Water Recycling Centre was underway which will further help harden up infrastructure and reduce issues surrounding infiltration. "Horning has a high water table and unstable subsoil which makes groundwater infiltration into the sewer network a major challenge, further compounded by the legacy of last year's record rainfall," he said.
Larger scale attempts to address these chronic storm overflow incidents also involve Anglian Water discussing plans with Ofwat for investing £1 billion into infrastructural improvements.
Political and Public Reactions
Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, Steffan Aquarone said the scale of sewage spilling was "utterly staggering" with 530 last year in his constituency. He added, "The continuing Horning spill shows the width of the sewage management crisis. I have pressed Anglian Water on the urgent need for substantial investment in our ancient sewage systems, which are completely incapable of coping with increased rainfall due to climate change. Only by investment will we be able to cut these spills and protect our precious coastline."
The longer this goes on, the more imperative it will be that a resolution can be found to save the waters of the Norfolk Broads and its delicate ecosystem.