EDM 1077: Chalk stream river protection

That this House recognises the crucial role of chalk stream rivers in ensuring water security and supporting local ecosystems; acknowledges the significant threats faced by chalk stream rivers, including over-abstraction, wastewater pollution, sewage dumping, and urban development; notes with concern that, without action, incidents of water scarcity and ecological degradation in these unique waterways will increase due to ongoing environmental harm; further notes that in 2024 there was more than 975 hours’ worth of sewage pumped into the river Loddon and the river Whitewater, two chalk stream rivers that run through North East Hampshire; and calls on the Government to recognise the ecological distinctiveness of chalk streams and implement specific protections to preserve them, as these irreplaceable ecosystems are at risk of disappearing without urgent intervention.