AN ENVIRONMENTAL movement is slamming Southern Water for polluting rivers in Winchester.

Members of Extinction Rebellion Winchester have pinned bright yellow warning signs by rivers around the city to draw attention to the amount of sewage and other pollutants being released into the water.

The signs, spotted in North Walls Recreation Ground, The Weirs and by Winnall Moors, read: “Warning toxic water brought to you by Southern Water.

“Shocking and wholesale disregard for the environment, for precious, delicate ecosystems and coastlines and human health… Mr Justice Johnson (Southern Water prosecutor, 2021)."

READ MORE: Kiln Lane opens after 11 days of sewage and water works

Hampshire Chronicle:

The sign then lists figures for the amount of illegal discharges (8,400), illegal spills (6,971), hours of releases (61,704) and litres of raw sewage (21bn).

SEE ALSO: Vintage coffee van finds new home at North Walls Recreation Ground

Hampshire Chronicle:

A QR code can be scanned, which takes visitors to a Surfers Against Sewage page encouraging people to call on their MP and demand an action plan to end sewage pollution.

Mike Nell of Extinction Rebellion Winchester said: "This action was part of a national XR campaign Dirty Water designed to highlight to people that our rivers, streams and oceans are precious ecosystems that we lose at our peril. 

"In this part of Hampshire we have more chalk streams than in the rest of the world combined. Chalk streams are fragile and precious ecosystems with unique flora and fauna that we in Extinction Rebellion want to pass on to our children intact.

"Phase 1 of Dirty Water focused on how our politicians have failed to take opportunities to enact legislation to oblige water companies to take care of our waterways.

"Sunday’s action was phase 2 where we highlighted that Southern Water is not adequate custodians of these unique habitats. We chose locations for the signs that were adjacent to water in the city and in safe places to highlight some facts that we feel the public deserve to know about Southern Water."

A spokesperson for Southern Water said: “The sign refers to events that took place between 2010 and 2015 at a number of wastewater treatment works in coastal areas. A £90 million fine was paid by Southern Water’s shareholders – not a penny was contributed by customers.”

Resident Jez Hunter first saw the signs on Sunday, April 2. Posting on the Facebook page Winchester Rants, he said: “Anyone else seen these yellow signs that seem to have popped up along the river today? I think they are brilliant. It is horrendous what these water companies are getting away with and great that someone is drawing more attention to it and linking it to Southern water.”