UK government could miss chance to remove pollutants from wastewater

The UK government could miss the chance to remove chemical pollutants from wastewater, putting at risk its water sector reforms. The warning comes from the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) that says the cost of cleaning up chemicals from the environment could be left to taxpayers if the country does not follow the EU in introducing a “polluter pays” principle. It requires industries responsible for producing or using harmful contaminants to contribute financially to their removal or remediation. At present, wastewater treatment plants in the UK are not equipped to remove pollutants potentially harmful to human health and nature. These pollutants, also known as contaminants of emerging concern (CCs), are pharmaceuticals, pesticides, illicit drugs, and PFAS that can spread through the environment in many ways, including through effluent streams. The government’s planned water sector reforms focus on measures to tackle sewage pollution, but the RSC argues that it should also ensure the removal of CCs from wastewater. Natalie Sims, policy adviser at the Society, said that focusing only on sewage pollution risks missing the chance to protect waters from other threats for the long term.
Sims added that the UK should align more closely with Europe on wastewater rules, making industries shoulder the cost of cleaning up toxic contaminants from the environment. The public seems to share this sentiment, with over 70% of respondents in a recent RSC survey saying that chemical manufacturers should be held responsible for reducing contamination levels.