Write to your local MP about ensuring protection of the public and the environment from water pollution - Step 1
Pollution is one of three interconnected dimensions of the planetary crisis, alongside climate change and biodiversity loss. Water bodies including lakes, rivers, coastal waters and oceans, cover 71% of the Earth’s surface, yet they are widely contaminated with toxic chemicals and plastics.
Among the growing threats to our water bodies are ‘Contaminants of Emerging Concern’ (CECs), a broad group of substances including so-called ‘forever chemicals’ (PFAS), microplastics and pesticides. Even at very low concentrations, CECs can be toxic and persistent, accumulating in wildlife or humans and posing risks to both ecosystems and human health.
The sources of CECs are diverse and include treated and untreated wastewater, agricultural and urban runoff, and industrial discharges. One key challenge is that our current wastewater treatment plants were never designed to remove many of these chemicals and microplastics from wastewater, meaning CECs often remain in treated effluent released into the environment.
At the Royal Society of Chemistry, we are calling on Government to make sure those responsible for pollution take greater responsibility for cleaning it up.
More specifically, we are urging Government to update our wastewater legislation and implement a stronger ‘polluter pays’ principle by making additional treatment to remove CECs from urban wastewater mandatory and requiring industries that produce or use problematic chemicals that end up in wastewater to contribute to the financing.
This is a timely opportunity to act, as the water sector in England and Wales is undergoing significant change following the Independent Water Review, with the Government imminently expected to publish a water White Paper to outline a new Water Reform Bill. By taking action now, we can ensure those responsible for pollution take greater responsibility for cleaning it up, protecting both the environment and human health in the long term.
You can help make sure government is paying attention to this issue by writing to your local MP and asking them to raise this issue with government.
Simply fill in your name and details below, and you will be able to review a pre-written email to send directly to your MP. If you'd like, you can personalise the email to include information about your own experiences and knowledge.
