the government says the amount of sewage in our rivers is unacceptable, and the government has a bill in parliament to address the problem, which they say will deliver progressive reductions in the harm caused by storm overflows. the trouble is, 22 conservative mps say it doesn t go far enough. they want the government to back this amendment. it puts a legal duty on water companies to take all reasonable steps to ensure untreated sewage is not discharged. for the last few days, anger has been mounting at the government s position. they ve been protesting on the streets in margate in kent, and they have taken to the beaches in nearby whitstable. what everyone agrees on is that britain s victorian water system needs rescuing, but it will cost billions and billions to do so. zoe conway, bbc news. the time is 1:16pm. our top story this lunchtime:
it s not clear yet whether this 49 hour spill will be considered to be legal or not. southern water was fined £90 million for unlawful discharges injuly. but it s notjust in hampshire that this is happening. a sewage treatment plant less than a mile from where i m standing in wallingford in oxfordshire discharged untreated sewage into this stretch of the river thames for 993 hours last year. the government has been under pressure from people taking to the streets, and from inside parliament, to ensure that water companies are legally required to reduce sewage discharges. tonight, the government gave in. we ve listened to the debate that took place in parliament and we will write what is already government policy into the statutes to give people that reassurance they seek. what everyone agrees on is that britain s victorian water system needs fixing, but it will cost
993 hours last year. thames water admits that these discharges are unacceptable and says it is working with the government to stop them from happening. you with the government to stop them from happening- from happening. you can t simply eliminate them from happening. you can t simply eliminate them overnight - from happening. you can t simply eliminate them overnight and - from happening. you can t simply eliminate them overnight and to l from happening. you can t simply i eliminate them overnight and to do so would cost hundreds of billions of pounds and while there are some we will be able to remove and reduce altogether, for some, it will be the cost of doing so that will be prohibitive. cost of doing so that will be rohibitive. ., ., , . , prohibitive. for the last few days an . er has prohibitive. for the last few days anger has been prohibitive. for the last few days anger has been mounting - prohibitive. for the last few days anger has been mounting on - prohibitive. for