Report on Water Quality and its Impact on Sustainable Development in Plymouth

Executive Summary

A testimonial from a local resident, Mr. Colin Hargreaves, highlights a significant conflict between recreational water use and water pollution at Devil’s Point, Plymouth. The report details concerns regarding sewage discharge, its impact on public health, and the perceived lack of corporate accountability from the local water utility, South West Water. These findings directly challenge the progress towards several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Case Study: Citizen Testimony on Water Quality

1. Subject: Mr. Colin Hargreaves, a 70-year-old resident.
2. Activity: Regular sea swimming (three to four times per week) for documented physical and mental health benefits.
3. Observation: Direct encounters with sewage pollution, characterized by unpleasant smells and visible surface scum.
4. Concern: Public frustration over rising utility bills and corporate bonuses juxtaposed with persistent environmental pollution and restricted access to safe recreational waters.
5. Call to Action: A demand for transparent and significant infrastructure improvements by South West Water to rectify the pollution issue.

Analysis of Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The practice of sea swimming is a positive contributor to community health. However, the presence of sewage contaminants poses a direct health risk, undermining the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The reported incidents of sewage in the sea represent a failure to meet Target 6.3, which aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution and halving the proportion of untreated wastewater. This directly impacts the safety of water bodies used for recreation.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The discharge of untreated sewage into marine environments is a significant source of pollution that harms marine ecosystems, threatening biodiversity and contravening the objective to conserve and sustainably use the oceans and marine resources (Target 14.1).
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Safe and accessible public spaces, including coastal areas, are vital for sustainable communities. Water pollution degrades these natural assets, limiting their use and diminishing the quality of urban life.

Conclusion and Forward Outlook

The testimony from Mr. Hargreaves underscores a critical gap between corporate practice and the principles of sustainable development. Achieving local and global sustainability targets requires demonstrable action from utility providers to ensure the protection of public health and the environment, aligning their operations with SDG 3, SDG 6, SDG 11, and SDG 14. The call for visible improvements reflects a public demand for accountability and progress towards a sustainable future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues that are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article mentions the swimmer’s concern for health. He engages in sea swimming for its “physical and mental health” benefits, but the presence of sewage poses a direct health risk, contradicting the goal of ensuring healthy lives.
   • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most central SDG. The core issue discussed is “sewage out in the water,” which points directly to failures in sanitation infrastructure and wastewater management, key components of SDG 6.
   • SDG 14: Life Below Water: The pollution is occurring in a marine environment (“sea swimmer,” “Devil’s Point”). Discharging sewage into the sea is a form of marine pollution from a land-based source, which directly impacts the health of marine ecosystems, a primary concern of SDG 14.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the specific problems described, the following targets can be identified:

   • Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The swimmer’s observation of “sewage” and a “patchy scum” implies the presence of water contamination that could lead to illness, making this target highly relevant.
   • Target 6.3: “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater…” The article’s focus on “sewage out in the water” and the call for South West Water to “make more improvements to the networks” directly relates to the need to reduce pollution from untreated wastewater.
   • Target 14.1: “By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities…” The sewage described in the article is a form of land-based pollution entering the coastal marine environment at Devil’s Point, directly aligning with the objective of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article provides qualitative, observational indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • For Target 3.9: The implied indicator is the risk of illness from polluted recreational waters. The swimmer’s testimony about having to be “a bit aware of” a “patchy scum” serves as a qualitative indicator of unsafe water conditions that could cause illness. A reduction in such sightings would indicate progress.
   • For Target 6.3: The indicator is the presence of untreated wastewater in the environment. The swimmer’s direct observations of “sewage,” a “smell,” and “patchy scum” are direct, non-quantitative indicators that wastewater is not being adequately treated before discharge. Progress would be measured by the absence of these phenomena.
   • For Target 14.1: The indicator is the level of coastal water quality. The description of the water at Devil’s Point containing sewage is a direct indicator of poor coastal water quality resulting from land-based activities. Improved water clarity and the absence of sewage smell or scum would signify progress toward this target.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators (as identified in the article)
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.9: Reduce illnesses from water pollution.	Presence of “patchy scum” in swimming water, creating a risk of illness for recreational users.
   SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation	Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution and the proportion of untreated wastewater.	Visual and olfactory evidence of “sewage out in the water,” including a “smell” and “scum,” indicating untreated or poorly treated wastewater discharge.
   SDG 14: Life Below Water	Target 14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution from land-based activities.	Sewage pollution in a coastal marine environment (Devil’s Point), originating from land-based water networks.

Source: bbc.com