Raw sewage keeps swimmers away from UK beaches

 

Raw sewage keeps swimmers away from UK beaches 

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2BmJI_5s3s

The UK is experiencing "poonami" – a sewage crisis. The environmental group Greenpeace said water  companies poured toilet waste into rivers and seas for more than 300,000 hours in 2022. Many people have complained about becoming sick after swimming in the sea. Others expressed concerns about the terrible smell on beaches, or the horrible brown colour of the water. The research company Savanta conducted a poll about people's opinions on the poor quality of water. Almost a quarter of swimmers said they might not swim in the sea this year because of the risk. Last week, at least 57 people got diarrhoea after competing in sea swimming events at a World Triathlon Championship.

England and Wales are the only countries in the world to have privatized their water and sewage services. The UK government sold its water to private companies in 1987. The companies promised to spend billions of pounds on making services better. However, many Britons have complained that things have become much worse. The privatized companies have not invested enough money in stopping leaks or in modernizing systems. Since 1991, they have paid over £2 billion a year to their shareholders. Water campaigner and ex-rock star Feargal Sharkey is angry with the  water companies. He said they have failed to create a quality system. He also blamed the UK government for not acting.

1. GOVERNMENT OWNED: Students A strongly believe water services should be government owned; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Explain.
2. PUBLIC SERVICES: How good are these public services in your country? How could they be better Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Quality of Public Services	How They Could Be Better
Water
Electricity
Internet
Education
Health
Policing

 

3.Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.	crisis	a.	Caused a liquid to flow from one place to another.
2.	poured	b.	Said or communicated what one thinks or means.
3.	waste	c.	A time of great difficulty or danger.
4.	expressed	d.	Very unpleasant.
5.	concern	e.	Anxiety; worry.
6.	horrible	f.	A stomach problem when poo leaves the body frequently and in a liquid form.
7.	diarrhoea	g.	The things our body no longer needs that goes down the toilet.

    Paragraph 2

8.	privatized	h.	Said someone was responsible for a fault or a bad thing.
9.	complained	i.	Something accidentally losing  water, liquid or gas, through a hole or crack.
10.	invested	j.	An owner of shares in a company.
11.	leak	k.	Transferred a business, industry, or service from public to private ownership and control.
12.	shareholder	l.	Told someone you are unhappy about something.
13.	campaigner	m.	A person who works in an organized and active way towards a goal or to bring change.
14.	blamed	n.	Put money into money-making schemes, shares, property, etc. with the hope of making a profit or making something better.

 

4. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1. crisis
2. complained
3. sick
4. opinions
5. risk
6. companies
7. promised
8. invested
9. paid
10. acting

1. pledged
2. beliefs
3. handed over
4. corporations
5. protested
6. doing something
7. danger
8. disaster
9. put money into
10. ill

5.Role play

Role  A – Hose Pipes You think hose pipes are the biggest waste of  water. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least wasteful of these (and why):

Role  B – Swimming Pools You think swimming pools are the biggest waste of water. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least wasteful of these (and why):

Role  C – Golf Courses You think golf courses are the biggest waste of water. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least wasteful of these (and why):

Role  D – Bottled  Water You think bottled  water is the biggest waste of water. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their uses. Also, tell the others which is the least wasteful of these (and why):  OR Car washes Water parks Water pistols Fountains 6. The following are expressions with the word shit. What do you think they mean ? A. He thinks his shit doesn't stink. B. He is talking shit about you. C. He is batshit. D. Last night he got shitfaced. E. He doesn't have his shit together. F. What you just said is bullshit.  G. He is a shithead H. He enjoys shooting the shit. I. The situation was a shitstorm. J. When the shit hits the fan.

7.Discussion - UK Sewage Crisis

1. What do you know about Greenpeace?
2. What do you think of pouring human sewage into the sea?
3. What's the best way to deal with sewage?
4. Should the UK government give people money who got sick?
5. What would you do if beaches smelled really bad?
6. What do you think of swimming in the sea?
7. What are rivers and beaches like in your country?
8. What do you think of the word 'poonami'?

11. Should  water and sewage be run by private companies?
12. Why did the UK government sell its  water?
13. How safe is the water in your country?
14. Why do companies care more about profit than people?
15. Should the UK take back its water and sewage services?
16. Would you go swimming in England?
17. What questions would you like to ask the private water companies?