3 ‘flaws’ in Emmerdale slurry leak story including Nate’s rotting body

Since arriving in Emmerdale, John Sugden has put his fair share of lives in danger – and taken some, just see Nate’s body in the lake. With his presumed hero syndrome causing him to risk lives in order to save them, he’s definitely made some mistakes.

With the slurry tank leak, however, his plan wasn’t to put anyone in danger. Instead, he wanted to pin the blame on Mackenzie.

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This has worked so far, but keeping lives out of danger hasn’t. That said, the only one who’s been seriously affected by the contaminated water is Harry, which is surprising. In fact, a fair few things about this storyline are surprising – and some of it certainly doesn’t make sense…

John and Victoria with Harry in hospital in Ememrdale
Harry seems to be the only one who is unwell (Credit: ITV)

1. Why aren’t more residents ill from the slurry leak?

Although Pollard was quick to try and cash in with bottled water, the news of the contaminated water supply would not have been instant.

Victoria continued to give Harry the water after contamination…so why is he the only one?

Considering how unwell the little boy is, it seems likely that others should be at least mildly sick. In reality, there would be a fair few who would have continued to unknowingly consume the water.

“If the water in Emmerdale was contaminated, surely there would be more people who drunk the water and got ill? Just one child gets hospitalised?” queried on viewer on social media.

Nate Robinson's body floats back down into the water and we can see the distinctive bracelet (Credit: ITV)
Nate’s body remains in the water (Credit: ITV)

One of the victims of John’s hero complex was Nate Robinson, though unlike the others, he was unable to save him.

Nate was killed, and John dumped his body in the river.

Of course, nobody knows about this, other than Amy – who tragically died in the limo crash – but this still suggests the water would already be contaminated.

It’s been some time since Nate’s body was dumped in the water, and at this point, it would no doubt be rotting. Wouldn’t the water already be contaminated?

On fan wrote: “As soon as they empty the lake they will say the decomposing body has probably been contaminating the water over weeks.”

“Surely they’ll realise Nate’s decomposing body is actually the source of contamination?” asked one more.

Mackenzie Boyd in Emmerdale
Mack thinks the leak was his fault (Credit: ITV)

3. Is the water unfiltered? And why are they drinking it from a stream?!

Although the Emmerdale residents live in a small village, it seems unlikely that their water supply comes directly from the river.

At some point between the river and their homes, shouldn’t it be getting filtered?

While contamination of water supplies can still happen, it’s unlikely that this would occur directly from the river in the way that it has.

Viewers all agree on this one: “Does the water seriously not go through any treatment plants??” one asked.

“Since when did rivers and streams go direct into the water system without treatment?” added another.

A third said: “What’s poisoning people then….ain’t no way contaminated river water is fed straight to household taps.”

“Why are the villagers in Emmerdale drinking water from a stream that runs through farmland? Fertiliser run off, cow crap and piss. If it came from a tap, it would have been cleaned already. Absurd storyline,” raged a fourth.

Despite these flaws, the real question is…will anyone find out that John was behind the leak?

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