UK River Report #15: Councils Confirm the Rights of Rivers, Tunbridge Wells' Troubles, Thames Water's Tribulations and the Bid for a Biobead Ban

Welcome back dear reader to the fifteenth installment of the UK River Report. In this month's post, I shall discuss some of the progress being made to recognise the rights of our rivers, while covering some of the failings of water companies in the run up to — and during — the Christmas holidays. I will also be considering some of the most recent updates on Thames Water, as talks on its financial issues stretch into the New Year, while returning to some of the environmental crises previously discussed and the process, or lack thereof, being made.

Rights of rivers:

Recognition of a river's personhood has become gradually legitimised through the increasing number of councils supporting the rights of rivers [1]. Broadly defined as the right to flow; the right to native biodiversity; and the right to be free from pollution, this community-led movement helps bolster the work of local campaign groups such as Love Our Ouse and prioritise improving the health of our rivers [1].

Having previously discussed the concept of legal personhood status — initially campaigned for by pressure groups such as Bristol's Conham Bathing — the issue has since garnered support from local councils across the political divide, from Conservative Party-run Test Valley Borough Council to Labour-majority Southampton City Council [2, 3]. Although it is ultimately through Parliament that England's waterways could be granted the same legal status as people, these are clearly promising developments that ought to pressure the central government to recognise the importance of healthy rivers, for people and the environment [1].

(Lack of ) water in a winter wonderland:

Beginning late last month and progressing into early December, contamination with 'a batch of coagulant chemicals' of the Pembury Treatment Works resulted in over 23,000 residents in Tunbridge Wells being left without water [4-6]. Despite repeated claims by South East Water that supplies would soon return from as early as 1st December, water quality issues persisted until 12th December, with the disruption that ensued likely costing the local hospitality sector £7 million - £8 million [7-10].

This comes as the Pembury Treatment Works had in 2024 already been highlighted by the Drinking Water Inspectorate as a 'potential danger to human health', citing the risk of contamination from pesticides, E coli, Enterococci and Clostridium bacteria [11, 12]. Given South East Water recently obtained a £200 million cash injection from investors due to its poor financial health, the chaos felt by residents of Tunbridge Wells is symptomatic of ageing, underinvested infrastructure owned by a company on the verge of financial collapse, and yet still willing to sweat assets to its shareholders, if not for Ofwat restrictions [13-15].

Elsewhere, properties in Hastings were without water on Christmas Day following a burst water main, despite assurances from Southern Water that the risks of this were 'significantly reduced' [16].

This underscores the reality of public utility privatisation.

Thames Water — business as usual:

Returning to the financial issues for Thames Water, efforts to secure its takeover by lenders are set to extend into 2026 [17]. Despite recording a profit of £414 million in the six months leading up to September, the corporation still cite concerns over 'material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt' and its risk of collapse into government control [17]. Yet, only due to government pressure were executive retention payments worth £2.5 million deferred, as a similar payment was already made back in April of this year, with subsequently planned retention payments likely to have bypassed the government's Water (Special Measures) Act passed in May, designed to ban performance-related bonuses [18].

While creditors continue attempts to persuade Ofwat to agree to a recapitalisation deal that would allow the company to avoid environmental obligations and fines worth billions of pounds, Thames Water face fresh legal challenges from communities across south-east England [19, 20]. The first coordinated legal complaint of its kind, residents have demanded accountability from Thames Water and urgent action against the sewage pollution negatively affecting their lives [20].

Through the issuing of statutory nuisance complaints under section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to their local authorities, the councils, where claims are proven, have a legal duty to act [20, 21]. Given the central government's apparent unwillingness to put Thames Water into special administration, allowing this fiasco to drag on, it is commendable to see residents taking back control and pressurise ministers to take appropriate action [20].

Continued ecological crises:

Efforts to address last month's biobead catastrophe at Camber Sands continue as the Local Wildlife Trust and volunteers attempt to manage the spill, with the beads having become embedded in fragile saltmarsh and shingle habitats [22]. In response to the environmental crisis, resulting from Southern Water's failings, the local MP, Helena Dollimore, alongside Wildlife Trust conservationists, have called for the use of biobeads to be banned [22].

Not only do these pose an acute health risk to humans and the environment, but there also exist alternative, modern technologies for water purification, such as the use of electric currents and fixed surfaces made of ceramic, concrete or glass [22]. This is evidently yet another systemic issue arising from historic underfunding by private water companies, resulting in outdated infrastructure no longer fit for purpose.

In other news, the mountainous fly tipping situated in Oxfordshire remains [23]. Given the detection of a fire risk, the site is to be cleared 'imminently', although no official date has been announced [23, 24]. Fortunately, no pollution of the River Cherwell has been detected thus far, however, as the Environment Agency is expected to fund the clean-up operation, there is concern it may lack the necessary capacity and funding to tackle an issue of this scale in a timely manner [23].

Therefore, there remains a clear risk, highlighting the need to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Thank you for taking the time to read this month's issue of the UK River Report. I hope you found it informative. If you would like to get involved and raise awareness of river pollution in your area, please head over to the UK River Report website and check under the 'Get Involved' page to complete our survey, or feel free to get in touch via the 'Contact' page, if you feel you have more to discuss than the survey can offer. 

Lastly, I would like to wish you all a happy New Year. In times of uncertainty, we ought to come together to embrace positive change and continue to recognise and call out the injustices plaguing our waterways.

With hope for the future,

Federico 

References:

1. Buchan C. Why are Councils Voting for 'rights' of Rivers? BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 29]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2glkq1qgro

2. Lemer J, Holmes J. Protesters Touring UK in Fight Against River Sewage. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 29]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce87dnl8kkko

3. White M. Rights of Rivers Recognised in Council Votes. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 29]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78z69q4yddo

4. Edell N. Water Firm Apologises to People with Supply Issues. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 23]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgjedvx903o

5. Maisner S, Buchan C, Sexton D. 'Utterly useless’: MP Says Water Boss Should Quit Over Shortages. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 23]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0r0pdvp0ent?post=asset%3A17492e80-83bf-46dc-8b4f-be2d81c6dad8

6. Fuller C, Murphy C. Treatment Works Issue Leaves 23,000 Without Water. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 23]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2081xew4vqo

7. Horton H. Tunbridge Wells Water Cut Likely to Last After Treatment Problem Reoccurs. The Guardian; 2025. [cited 2025 December 24]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/02/homes-in-tunbridge-wells-without-water-for-days-after-wrong-chemicals-added

8. BBC. Boil Water Notice Lifted for all 24,000 Households. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 24]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd9zzjzn8pno

9. Sherratt Z. How Kent Survived a Week Without Water. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 24]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyz1jqzd4wo

10. Whittlesea P, Lo H-Y. Businesses 'potentially lost £8m' in Water Crisis. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 24]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy95p00vd4lo

11. Horton H. Water Plant that Caused Tunbridge Wells Supply Failure was Given Risk Notice in 2024. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 25]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/04/south-east-water-plant-tunbridge-wells-supply-failure-risk-notice

12. Adjei N. South East Water Limited – Pembury Water Treatment Works_Raw Water Treatment. Drinking Water Inspectorate; 2025. [cited 2025 December 25]. Available from: https://www.dwi.gov.uk/water-companies/improvement-programmes/south-east-water-improvement-programmes/sew-2024-00006/

13. Water Magazine. £200 Million Pound Injection into South East Water. Water Magazine; 2025. [cited 2025 December 26]. Available from: https://www.watermagazine.co.uk/2025/06/03/200-million-pound-injection-into-south-east-water/

14. Lawson A. South East Water Spent More on Dividends and Debt than Infrastructure. The Guardian; 2023. [cited 2025 December 26]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/07/south-east-water-debt-infrastructure

15. Ofwat. PR24 Redeterminations – Response to South East Water's Statement of Case. Ofwat; 2025. [cited 2025 December 26]. Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6813248e0a8696a367e727e3/South_East_Water_s_statement_of_case.pdf

16. Sexton D, Buchan C, Sherratt Z. Properties Lose Water Supply on Christmas Day. [cited 2025 December 27]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y9j2e23j6o

17. Jolly J. Thames Water Faces Collapse as Crisis Talks Take ‘longer than expected’. The Guardian; 2025. [cited 2025 December 28]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/03/thames-water-half-year-profit-leaps-to-nearly-400m-even-as-collapse-risk-remains

18. Horton H. Thames Water Defers Controversial £2.5m in Bonuses to Bosses. The Guardian; 2025. [cited 2025 December 28]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/16/thames-water-defers-bonuses-bosses

19. Collingridge J, Isaac A. Thames Water Begs to be Spared Fines and Costs, Warning Bidders will Walk Away. The Guardian; 2025. [cited 2025 December 28]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/14/thames-water-asks-ofwat-to-be-spared-fines-costs

20. Laville S. People Living Along Polluted Thames File Legal Complaint to Force Water Firm to Act. The Guardian; 2025. [cited 2025 December 29]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/02/people-living-along-polluted-thames-file-legal-complaint-force-water-firm-act

21. The National Archives. Environmental Protection Act 1990. GOV.UK; 2025. [cited 2025 December 29]. Available from: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/43/section/79

22. Horton H. MP Calls for Ban on ‘biobeads’ at Sewage Works after Devastating Camber Sands Spillage. The Guardian; 2025. [cited 2025 December 30]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/11/mp-calls-for-ban-on-biobeads-at-sewage-works-after-devastating-camber-sands-spillage

23. Morris J. No Evidence Waste Mountain has Polluted River. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 30]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70rgldljq9o

24. Dimitrova G. Waste Mountain Clearance to 'begin imminently'. BBC; 2025. [cited 2025 December 30]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj0prvlp30o