116% increase in Sewage Dumping Hours

New figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Southern Water which covers Sussex Weald discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 317,285 hours last year, a 116% rise on 2022. 

Sussex Weald Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers, including replacing Ofwat with a tougher regulator. The party has also called for a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis, including MP for Wealden, Nusrat Ghani.

Across the area serviced by Southern Water there were 29,494 spills in 2023, an increase of 77% on 2022, when there were 16,688 spills over 146,819 hours.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Sussex Weald, Danielle Newson said:

“It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into Sussex Weald’s rivers and waterways. 

“It beggars belief that Conservative MPs have allowed water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism. Local people are furious that Conservative politicians blocked tougher action on these disgraced firms.

"The Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local rivers including replacing Ofwat with a regulator that has real teeth to clamp down on these polluting firms. We have also called for a ban on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways."

Sources: Environment Agency Data