Sewage in the Solent/Hamble.

[PhillM]

I’m onboard on my Hamble mooring tonight. As the tide ebbed there was the usual smell of mud. But now it’s on the flood there is a definite smell of sewage. I’ve been on the Hamble for at least 10 years and never smelt it like this before. There is no way this is boat sewage. Shame on the water companies.

 

[lustyd]

The water companies are working within the system. Shame on the voting population.

 

[steveeasy]

Actually a few weeks ago we were having a good session late in to the evening up at Bursledon. we were hit by the most dreadful smell. I actually thought it was Gas at first. Still we carried on drinking as you do. But never noticed anything like it before.

Steveeasy

 

[lustyd]

A few weeks ago we were in Salcombe watching brown froth float past every 6 hours, which I later had to wash off of the dinghy. You should be thankful you only smelled something. The children (and presumably parents) swimming at the entrance to the harbour were oblivious, it's only further up you can see it.

 

[PhillM]

The water companies are working within the system. Shame on the voting population.

I believe that Southern Water was fined for their dumping of sewage.

Record £90m fine for Southern Water following EA prosecution

 

[PhillM]

A few weeks ago we were in Salcombe watching brown froth float past every 6 hours, which I later had to wash off of the dinghy. You should be thankful you only smelled something. The children (and presumably parents) swimming at the entrance to the harbour were oblivious, it's only further up you can see it.

There are many paddle boarders and canoeists that are oblivious too. Although it has made regional news.

 

[Wansworth]

It should Bea public service and if need be more tax raised to pay for the service if need be.

 

[lustyd]

I believe that Southern Water was fined for their dumping of sewage.

Record £90m fine for Southern Water following EA prosecution

Yes, fined an insignificant amount, why try harder? 90% of the country vote for their favourite colour in elections (I'm not saying either party is good, most people vote for whatever crook is aligned to their favourite colour). Those they are voting for are millionaires who know how to extract more money. I'm not really sure how we can fix the UK, we're certainly not going to fix the water any time soon. Nothing has changed at all in my lifetime, I can't see it changing now.

 

[lustyd]

It should Bea public service and if need be more tax raised to pay for the service if need be.

Raising taxes would lose elections. The population will forget about this entirely by mid-September. I guarantee it! In fact they'll be so greatful to get their hosepipes back they'll probably think someone did something useful...

Yes, I'm disillusioned with the system

 

[Wansworth]

Raising taxes would lose elections. The population will forget about this entirely by mid-September. I guarantee it! In fact they'll be so greatful to get their hosepipes back they'll probably think someone did something useful...

Yes, I'm disillusioned with the system

We are too happy with our consumer lifestyles that spending money on real things like health,pubic services which are the backbone of our society as you say is unpopular,but we should not get in to forbidden territory ?

 

[PhillM]

We are too happy with our consumer lifestyles that spending money on real things like health,pubic services which are the backbone of our society as you say is unpopular,but we should not get in to forbidden territory ?

Wasn’t meant to be political, just commenting on the health of the river as I found it tonight and also as a warning to those who like to swim and undertake other waterborne activities.

 

[lustyd]

I don't think any of us took your post as political. Unfortunately it's that kind of subject though, and the modern trend of shutting down such conversations through moderation probably isn't helping. If anyone is getting a ban on this thread though, it's me, and I'd be OK with that. I'm the same in person and will speak my mind on such subjects with the theory that every little helps.

 

[wombat88]

Quite smelly in Chichester Harbour today...

 

[DJE]

Nothing has changed at all in my lifetime, I can't see it changing now.

I don't know how old you are but there was significant improvement in the 1980s - before privatisation! The untreated outfalls at Netley and Hamble Village were intercepted and pumped through a pipe under the Hamble River to Peel Common treatment works.
This got rid of the continuous outflows but there are still storm overflows and pump failures.
Not much improvement since then though appart from expansion of the Peel Common works.

Edit, And a new treatment works on the Upper Hamble at Bishops Waltham - also before privatisation!

 

[RJJ]

I don't know how old you are but there was significant improvement in the 1980s - before privatisation! The untreated outfalls at Netley and Hamble Village were intercepted and pumped through a pipe under the Hamble River to Peel Common treatment works.
This got rid of the continuous outflows but there are still storm overflows and pump failures.
Not much improvement since then though appart from expansion of the Peel Common works.

Edit, And a new treatment works on the Upper Hamble at Bishops Waltham - also before privatisation!

The issue isn't private vs public, it's poor regulation allowing rewards for failure. Which again isn't confined to the private sector.

 

[Stemar]

I believe that Southern Water was fined for their dumping of sewage.

Record £90m fine for Southern Water following EA prosecution

Not enough to hurt, or rather, it hurts the wrong people "Sorry customers, times are hard, we need to put our prices up.

I'd put a 5 year plan on them, working towards taking fines for discharges out of the Directors' salaries, and zero bonus for directors in any year where there's any discharge for less than a 100 year rainstorm. "Sorry, our pump broke." "Sorry, your bonus broke" I've no objection to good directorship getting good pay, but not self-serving ones who are only good at bleeding the company.

Maybe stick it to the shareholders too, as they're the ones benefitting from the current lack of investment.

 

[Sandy]

In early August 2021 I was on passage between Plymouth and Ramsgate in a spell of very settled weather. On passing south of the Isle of Wright in glassy calm conditions what struck us was the bits of loo roll suspended in the water. We elected not to have a cooling dip off the back of the boat.

 

[westernman]

I believe that Southern Water was fined for their dumping of sewage.

Record £90m fine for Southern Water following EA prosecution

That is a pathetic little fine.
There should be another 2 or 3 zeroes on it.
Then they might consider actually investing in the infrastructure needed.

 

[Lightwave395]

It's cheaper to pay the fines than fix the problems

 

[lustyd]

It's cheaper to pay the fines than fix the problems

It’s also a culture in UK business that makes profit the only goal, even if not fulfilling the purpose of the company. It’s the only place I’ve seen this attitude, everywhere else at least does what the company is supposed to and then makes it profitable.