Hospital admissions for waterborne diseases in England have risen by 60%, the report shows
Water-borne diseases such as dysentery and Weil’s disease have risen by 60% in England since 2010, new figures show.
Analysis of NHS hospital admissions by the Labor Party has found that the number of people admitted to hospital with water-borne diseases has risen from 2,085 in 2010-2011 to 3,286 in 2022-2023.
The analysis follows widespread anger after record sewage discharges came to light this week. Environment Agency data shows that more than 3.6 million hours of raw sewage was discharged into rivers and seas last year – a 129% increase on the previous 12 months.
Increasing raw sewage in rivers means there is a greater risk of infections, campaigners claim, as people come into contact with the bacteria in human waste more often.
For example, last year 122 people were diagnosed with leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), double the number in 2010. The disease, which can lead to liver damage and kidney failure, is spread through contaminated water. Infected urine gets into the mouth, eyes or a cut, usually during activities such as kayaking, outdoor swimming or fishing. The number of cases of typhoid, which is also spread through contaminated water, has risen from 445 to 603.
Labour’s shadow environment minister, Steve Reed, said: “It is sickening that this Conservative government has turned a blind eye to the illegal dumping of sewage which has put thousands of people in hospital. To make matters worse, consumers are confronted with higher water bills, while water bosses pocket millions in bonuses.
“Labor will impose special measures on water companies to clean the water. We will strengthen regulations so that law-breaking water bosses are prosecuted, and we will give the regulator new powers to block the payment of any bonuses until the water bosses clean up their mess.”
The analysis comes as Oxford and Cambridge boat race organizers issued new safety guidelines for Saturday’s race, warning rowers not to enter the water and to cover any open wounds, after high levels of E.coli bacteria were found on the River Thames.
Instead of the traditional celebration where members of the winning team often jump into the river, crews are encouraged to wash up at a special cleaning station near the finish line. Some rowers have reported becoming seriously unwell after dirty water gets into the blisters they get while holding the oars.
Alastair Chisholm, policy director at the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, said: “Our research shows that 86% of the public want water reform under the next government. Our river crisis not only affects the health of nature, but also makes people sick. That has to change. We urgently need reforms.”
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “Pollution and wildlife loss are a public health disaster. Billions could be saved for the NHS every year by cleaning up dirty rivers, reducing air pollution and bringing nature back to life. All parties must make the major polluters pay and ensure that water companies invest in nature restoration in the interest of public health.”
Richard Walker, businessman and former chairman of Surfers Against Sewage, who was a Tory donor before switching to support Labor in January, said: “The way the Tories have flooded our coasts, rivers and streams with excrement is the perfect metaphor . for the way they have treated the country for the past fourteen years. Labour’s plan will take the tough action needed to get our vital utilities serving the public interest again.
“Everyone deserves to enjoy our beautiful coastline and rivers without the fear of getting sick because some fat cat is handing out dividends instead of investing in vital improvements.”
A government spokesperson said: “It has become clear to us that the amount of sewage being discharged into our waters is completely unacceptable and that water companies must take swift action.
“We are already taking tough action to hold them to account, including demanding record levels of accelerated investment, ensuring 100% monitoring of storm overflows and a quadrupling of water company inspections, and we are currently consulting on a ban on water bosses. ” bonuses, when criminal violations have occurred.
“This is in addition to the strict targets for water companies to reduce sewage leaks – front-loading action at designated bathing waters to make the biggest difference to these locations as quickly as possible.”