From Paul Whiteley, Bittaford, Devon, UK
You say that £870 million a year is the supposed beneficial impact on the UK’s health thanks to rivers and lakes encouraging physical activity and relaxation. I wonder if there is another, hidden cost that should be added in due to polluted waters(Leader, 18 February).
Back in 1995, I swam in a river downstream of a treatment works in Devon that pumps raw sewage into the water. The resultant ear infection caused tinnitus and hearing loss. I received many years of treatment from the National Health Service that has probably cost it tens of thousands of pounds.
