Water companies got England's sewage-ridden rivers and seas into this mess. Do we really trust them to clean it up? | Henry Swithinbank

Surfers, swimmers and consumers have been paying for the water industry's neglect for too long. We need action, not wordsAfter decades of pollution, chronic underinvestment and presiding over a fundamentally broken water system, water companies in England have finally apologised for the disgraceful state they have left our rivers and seas in and promised to change. But how on earth can we trust them?Of course, we welcome the industry finally taking responsibility and any additional investment to fix our broken system, but the money may prove too little and the apology too late. These companies have had ample opportunity to put things right and invest in their infrastructure. Meanwhile, surfers, swimmers and paddleboarders, from St Agnes to St Andrews, have been paying the price, risking becoming sick by simply entering the water.Henry Swithinbank is policy manager for Surfers Against Sewage Continue reading...