The only way forward now is for the People Who Care to be in Charge of our Waters.
90% of the world’s water sectors are in Public ownership for a reason – because in public ownership water is cleaner, cheaper and fairer.
Sign a Petition
There are many petitions out there at the moment – read them carefully as there are very few that are actually calling for public ownership. Some call for water to be run for public benefit (and water companies have changed their articles to say that…and done nothing different), some call for an exploration of options with public ownership being one of those, some call for ‘taking back control’ but not explicitly calling for nationalisation or public ownership .
If you support Public Ownership then please sign the SOS Whitstable Petition here which explictly calls for water to be returned to public ownership
– the People’s Commission on the Water Sector has looked at the options and public ownership stands out as the best. We are spoilt for choice. Other countries have taken back control of their water from private hands, and so they have lessons we can learn to design a modern, bespoke public ownership model for this country. This government wont even consider public ownership- shackling us for years to come with privatisation which means increasing bills, increasing water poverty, expensive projects with slow delivery, fines waived and no criminal prosecutions (so no incentives to get on with change), offshore owners taking billions in debt and dividend payments from our bills. It has to stop.
Write to your MP – here is an example letter you can use
Dear [insert MP name]
I am devastated by the state of our [ insert name – rivers/ lake/sea].
Did you know that sewage was dumped xxx times [insert from this link] in our constituency in 2024. This is a local and national disgrace. I am shocked to see that the government in its new white paper is about to shore up the very water industry that has destroyed our environment, neglected our assets, and polluted illegally. We are facing increased bills, and no one is fixing the cause of the water crisis – the monopoly privatised water system, shedding money to offshore owners.
I watched Dirty Business and I am shocked and outraged.
- Criminals must be prosecuted. I can’t believe there have been 1135 criminal convictions, with no prosecutions of the CEO or board of the water companies.
- The people who care should be in charge of the water industry. I want public ownership of water.
- The senior executives of Defra, EA and Ofwat who failed to implement the law must be held to account.
I want our rivers, lakes and seas to be free from sewage pollution and safe for people and wildlife. That will not happen when our water industry is run by overseas owners in it for profit.
Please can you attend the Sewage Campaign Network Drop-In on the 17th March in Portcullis House, 1.30 – 3.30pm to meet campaigners behind the Channel 4 Docudrama Dirty Business, and the EA Whistleblower featured. They will be briefing MPs from all parties on the public’s view about the cause of the water crisis, the Water White Paper and what has to happen now to secure cleaner, cheaper and fairer water services.
OPTIONAL
I would like to meet you after the Drop-In, please could I make an appointment to meet with you soon afterwards when you are back in the constituency to hear how you are going to stop sewage pollution, prosecute criminals, and put the people who care in charge of water.
ETC
Are you a Campaign Group? Would you like to Join the Sewage Campaign Network?
Whether you’re an individual, a community group, or another organisation, we’d love to connect. Reach out to us to learn how you can get involved, share your story, or support our efforts. We are a coalition – you keep control of your group but share knowledge and work together when it makes sense.
Join here
Our next event is a Drop-In for MPs and Peers in Westminster to explain both the causes of our water crisis and what to do. Campaigners are coming to Westminster to meet their MPs. CH4 and the team will be there.
Are you local? Would you like to Join the Ilkley Clean River Group? Or get our update emails?
Whilst we have made HUGE strides here in Ilkley with the upgrades along the river from Addingham to Ilkley, to ensure our sewage is treated, there is more to do to (a) monitor the impact of the scheme, (b) undertake citizen science water testing (c) to support other communities on the Wharfe to campaign.
Ch4 Dirty Business – The Fountain of Filth – for 1 week
To Promote Dirty Business Channel 4’s docudrama , ‘bronze-like statues of men, women, and children appear to vomit murky brown water, a sickening reflection of the real experiences of those who believe they were made ill by exposure to waterways polluted with untreated sewage.’ If you are in London do go along.
Press release here
WHERE: Observation Point, The Southbank, 56 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PP
