David Levy – What came first, the chicken or the egg? – Nov 20
Our investigations conducted to establish what happens when untreated animal and partially treated human sewage is discharged into our water courses, and finally into the sea, has been revealing.
One of our conclusions concerns the increases in hospital diagnosed illnesses and diseases. There are correlations between incidences of these illnesses and diseases and discharge events.
What has also emerged is the rise in the brown rat population whose activity is a transmitter of these illnesses.
My question is : what came first? The increases in the brown rat population, or the conditions that made for an explosion in the brown rat population?
Combine the two factors of poorly treated or non-treated sewage entering the environment, then add to this mix a species that has a proven track record of living in harmony with such conditions — and you have a growing problem which clearly needs to be brought under control.
The fact that these diseases and drug-resistant microbes are now combing, both in polluted watercourses and among the rat population, to create a ‘perfect storm’ is a reality which we must confront now.
If we fail to take advantage of the opportunity of a new Environment Bill/Act to control this situation, it may be too late for us to prevent a major outbreak of public health diseases.
Marinet has handed over to Philip Dunne MP an amendment that gives statutory powers to the Secretary of State to monitor discharges by the water companies and to hold these companies to account.
So far I have been concerned that the politicians see this as a party driven matter, rather than a non-party political issue.
It is clear to me that if the Government won’t support the amendment, then it is going to require all other politicians recognising the health implications of doing nothing . That means : voting for this amendment.
Will it happen? The jury is out.
David Levy
