London Protesters Rally for Urgent Cleanup of Sewage-Tainted Rivers Amid Growing Pollution Concerns

The Environment Agency reported over 464,000 spills last year, a 50% increase.

Thousands gathered in London, holding signs with slogans like "stop the plop" and "species not feces," to demand a cleanup of Britain's sewage-filled waterways.

Organisers estimated 15,000 participants marched along the River Thames to Parliament, forming a "human river" with blue flags. Police did not provide a crowd estimate.

Water pollution is a growing concern in Britain, highlighting issues related to climate change and the privatisation of utilities decades ago. Private water and sewage companies have not updated their aging infrastructure, leading to frequent leaks. During heavy rain, raw sewage is often discharged into rivers, lakes, and seas.

The Environment Agency reported over 464,000 spills last year, a 50% increase.

Farm runoff also contributes to water pollution in Britain. Climate change exacerbates the problem by causing more intense rainfall. Rower Imogen Grant, a gold medalist at the 2024 Olympic Games, noted that rowers often fall ill after training on the Thames. "I spend hours and hours on the water training every day in the rowing boats during my sessions, and seeing nappies floating along, seeing plastic bags, seeing scum along the pontoons that were training on...It's just not good enough and something needs to change," she said.