Link Made Between Water Quality & Chronic Health Conditions
Water quality in the UK is a seriously hot topic at the moment, with water companies all over the country coming under fire for pollution rates and the amount of sewage being dumped, both legally and illegally, into rivers, lakes and streams.
As well as causing environmental degradation and putting biodiversity and natural ecosystems at risk, poor water quality can also have a negative impact on human health, with new research indicating that there is a link between this, air pollution and multiple long-term chronic health conditions.
Published by the Healthy Lifespan Institute, part of the University of Sheffield, the study examined a large group of participants from across Serbia using data taken from the European Health Interview Survey, which is used to deepen understanding of people’s health in Europe.
Serbia’s overall multimorbidity prevalence is 33.4 per cent, with health problems categorised as either general, heart problems, diabetes, lung issues, and muscle/bone conditions.
The study found that people exposed to polluted water, regardless of whether it was chemically or biologically polluted (or both), were more likely to have multiple chronic health conditions. This was also true for people living in places with higher levels of air pollution, particularly from sulphur dioxide and tiny particles.
As such, the implication is that if air and water quality were improved in Serbia, it could go some way towards reducing the number of people experiencing multiple health issues.
Commenting on the findings, Liddy Goyder – professor of public health and member of the Healthy Lifespan Institute – said: “[They show], for the first time, the association between environmental pollution and specific multimorbidity clusters, highlighting the need for policies for tackling health inequalities and multimorbidity to address both socioeconomic and environmental factors.”
Water quality in the UK
Figures from Surfers Against Sewage show that of the 86 per cent of inland water bodies in England that fail to meet targets, some 36 per cent are failing because of sewage and wastewater discharges, while Rivers Trust figures from 2021 show that only 14 per cent of rivers are in good ecological health, with all of them failing to meet required chemical standards.
Part of the problem is that much of the pipe network dates back to Victorian times and is no longer fit for purpose, unable to cope under the weight of 21st century demand, with increasing urbanisation, population growth and climate change putting increasing amounts of pressure on the system.
Utility firms have also failed to keep up with infrastructure upgrades, all the while paying out significant dividends and bonuses to shareholders and company executives, with customer bills now soon to be increased in order to pay for the essential renovation work that needs to be carried out.
Additionally, sewage discharges continue to be made via the use of combined sewer overflows, which is having a big impact on water quality. These discharges are permissible in certain circumstances, such as periods of heavy rainfall, but it seems that they’re also being made illegally when no rain has been seen, incidents known as dry spills.
Recently published data from Earthwatch’s WaterBlitz project for 2024 show that there are now high levels of nitrates, phosphates, antibiotics, painkillers, pesticides and stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine in freshwater bodies around the UK.
Safe and secure water is essential for public health, no matter whether it’s used for drinking, food production, recreation or something else.
Contaminated water has been linked to a range of different diseases, including dysentery, diarrhoea, cholera, polio, typhoid and hepatitis A.
The presence of chemicals also puts people’s health at risk, with fluoride, arsenic, lead, pesticides, fertilisers and so on potentially leading to complications, including cancer, hormone disruption, kidney problems and altered brain function.
How can businesses help?
Businesses of all shapes and sizes have a pivotal role to play in supporting the nation’s waterways, helping to address concerns relating to both water quality and water quantity alike.
One of the best ways to become more water efficient and put sustainability at the heart of your operations is to have a desktop water audit carried out so you can see how and where you’re using water.
This will then help you identify ways in which you can improve your sustainable water management practices, boosting your blue credentials and showcasing to customers that you take environmental protection seriously.
If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the SwitchWaterSupplier.com team today.