English lawmakers warn toxic road runoff pollution being ignored

English lawmakers warn toxic road runoff pollution being ignored
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In England, toxic pollution from road runoff is being largely ignored by regulators and politicians, despite being a major contributor to the poor health of the nation’s rivers. According to an article from The Guardian, road runoff is responsible for 18% of the reasons why rivers fail to meet good ecological and chemical standards.

The article explains that this runoff, which includes toxic particles from tires and brakes, along with fuel and oil, flows into rivers from approximately 25,000 road outfalls after rainfall. Unlike sewage overflows, this form of pollution is not monitored or regulated by the Environment Agency, and there are no permits required for highway discharges.

Jo Bradley, director of operations at Stormwater Shepherds, a clean water advocacy group, told members of parliament that while significant funds have been allocated to combat sewage pollution, only a few million pounds have been invested in mitigating road outfall pollution. She also stated that although National Highways has identified a small number of these outfalls as high-risk, all 25,000 are contributing to toxic pollution. The Environment Agency has acknowledged the seriousness of the issue but does not have a regular monitoring program in place.