Top engineers urge action against faeces in rivers

Human faeces in our rivers is putting the public in danger and the risk will increase without action, the UK's top engineers and scientists have warned in a report.

The report led by the Royal Academy of Engineering called for an upgrade of the UK's sewage system and more widespread testing of the country's waterways.

Despite improvements in the UK's water quality, external over the last thirty years, raw sewage overflowing into rivers and seas remains a persistent problem. Last year on average there were 1,271 spills a day in England - a doubling on the previous year.

Consumption of water contaminated with human faeces exposes people to bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli which cause diarrhoea and vomiting or viruses like hepatitis A which can lead to liver infection.