Environment Policy Analysis for Water Pollution in Yorkshire

Policy Analysis Regarding Water Pollution in Yorkshire
By
Name
Institution
Date
Local Regulatory Context
* Ten Actions for Change
The Water UK has come up with "21st Century Rivers Ten Actions for Change." As recently as the 1990s, more than a fifth of sewage was not properly treated in the UK and Wales. At the same time, toxic metals, agricultural slurry, and industrial chemicals increased in rivers (Water UK, 2022). As a result, the number of fish and mammals in rivers started to reduce significantly. While the attempt of the water industry to add these challenges, three issues have emerged. Firstly, climate change is likely to change river flows and increase the concentration of pollutants. Secondly, the huge investments the government has made towards combating pollution have failed to increase the percentage of rivers rated as good since 2009. Lastly, the public's expectation has increased regarding the use of rivers. For instance, the popularity of activities like angling, open swimming, and water sports has increased hence the need for clean rivers. The Ten Actions for Change intends to bring a more effective and evidence-based way of handling sources of pollution (Water UK, 2022). At the same time, the outlined actions are critical in restoring the health and resilience of rivers. The Ten Actions for Change are condensed into three major subgroups; a new approach, supported by new tools and delivering early changes (Water UK, 2022).
* Advocacy Groups
Ilkley Clean River Campaign is a group that seeks to ensure that authorities enforce the regulations required to minimize the pollution of rivers. The group was formed out of the concern that raw sewerage was frequently discharged into the river, even during the summer. The companies noted that water companies use watercourses to eliminate treated and untreated sewage effluent. However, water companies are permitted to release untreated sewerage in "storm" conditions or in gravel and sandy areas that are exposed because the river is low (Ilkley Clean River Campaign, 2022). Ilkley Clean River Campaign liaises with the relevant local authorities and other interested organizations. The group has been working with Ilkley Town Council and Bradford Council to determine how the riverside can be managed to provide a safe environment for individuals to visit. The organization has been working over the years to stop Yorkshire Water Services from pumping solids into the river, stop the discharge of sewerage outside the storm conditions and ensure the local authorities upgrade the sewage to meet the needs of the growing population and climate (Ilkley Clean River Campaign, 2022).
* The Use of Technology
The use of technology has been instrumental in protecting River Wharfe against pollution. Various technological solutions have been applied to address the problem. One of them is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict blockages within the sewer network. The technology facilitates integrated sensing, communication, analytics, and reporting of the performance of the combined server overflows (Water Industry Journal, 2022). The data is critical in predicting problems like network blockages before they occur and enabling Yorkshire Water to quickly address th...