Water is hardly in short supply in the UK, but the government is still letting private water companies take more water from some rivers than is sustainable, and considering giving them permission to take even more.
About 14% of England’s rivers are already over-exploited, including fragile habitats such as chalk streams. New laws under consideration would double the amount of water taken and are just not sustainable.
The government’s new water bill would put the habitat of otters, water voles and an array of fish, birds and plants, some very rare, in grave danger, and all for the sake of filling water company coffers.
Tell the UK government not to allow water companies to destroy river habitats.
We the undersigned ask that you do not pass laws allowing water companies to buy water from private holders of abstraction licences, a move which would probably double the amount of water taken from England’s rivers.
Some of these rivers are already over-exploited and running dry, ruining the fragile habitat. Other rivers could supply a small amount more water, but not twice as much as is already taken. In other words, these laws are simply not sustainable.
Your responsibility is to protect our natural resources, including wildlife. Your job is not to pass laws that do nothing more than increase the profits of private companies.
Please reconsider this outrageous move.
Thank you for your attention.
