MPs from across the South West of England have raised serious concerns in Parliament about the worsening condition of the UK’s rivers and waterways, pointing to rampant sewage discharges, ageing infrastructure, and inadequate regulation as key factors behind what they described as a “national disgrace.”

During a passionate debate, members discussed numerous instances of raw sewage overflowing into water bodies, the resulting ecological harm, and the health dangers posed to communities. The discussion highlighted the consequences of under-investment in water infrastructure and insufficiently controlled farming practices. The Liberal Democrats called for a series of measures including tougher regulations, the introduction of real-time pollution reporting, and fundamental reforms within the water industry.

Brian Mathew, the Liberal Democrat MP for Melksham and Devizes, criticised water companies for failing to modernise their ageing sewage systems. Citing a recent case, he referred to Wessex Water’s £500,000 fine for releasing raw sewage into Clackers Brook, which resulted in the death of over 2,000 fish across a one-kilometre stretch. “These kinds of incidents cannot be allowed to persist,” Mathew told the debate. He recounted a constituent’s experience in West Lavington where a burst manhole during heavy rain led to sewage contamination of a local chalk stream. While recognising Wessex Water’s £2 million investment in a new sewage storage facility at Bradford-on-Avon, Mathew stressed, “more must be done to protect our vital aquatic ecosystems.” He further warned that modern agricultural trends, such as increases in maize cultivation and the proliferation of intensive poultry units, contribute to surface water run-off and phosphate pollution, worsening the situation.

Dr Roz Savage, Liberal Democrat MP for South Cotswolds, emphasised the public health risks associated with polluted waterways. She recounted how a young volunteer, Ben Thornbury, developed sepsis after cleaning up the River Avon in Malmesbury, saying: “Sadly—let no good deed go unpunished—he had picked up sepsis from the pollution in the river.” Despite the bleak circumstances, Dr Savage expressed optimism about the efforts of local groups and citizen scientists: last year, they reported 80 pollution incidents across Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. She welcomed upcoming initiatives, including the introduction of real-time pollution tracking and encouraged participation in community-based monitoring projects such as the Earthwatch WaterBlitz.

Anna Sabine, MP for Frome and East Somerset, called for enhanced funding for the Environment Agency, underlining that volunteer contributions should not replace official oversight. Dr Savage concurred, stating, “Although I commend those grassroots efforts, that is not their job.”

Edward Morello, MP for West Dorset, presented a particularly troubling picture for his constituency, revealing that over 4,000 sewage spills had occurred in 2024 alone, resulting in more than 48,000 hours of raw sewage being released into the environment. He noted that just four of the 36 water bodies monitored in West Dorset were found to be in good ecological health. Morello highlighted financial concerns, revealing that water company executives had awarded themselves £51 million in pay and bonuses, while local communities bore the consequences. “Water company executives paid themselves £51 million in pay and bonuses, and it is our communities who pay the price,” he stated. He warned that such pollution threatens West Dorset’s tourism-dependent economy, which generated over £300 million in 2022. Morello advocated for tougher regulations, including requiring water companies to be statutory consultees on housing developments, and proposed introducing a “blue flag” status for rivers and chalk streams to match standards used for beach cleanliness.

Sarah Dyke, MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, revealed that Wessex Water alone had discharged sewage for over 400,000 hours in her constituency during the previous year. She urged the replacement of the current water regulator with a new clean water authority to ensure stronger oversight.

Echoing calls for comprehensive action, Dan Aldridge, Labour MP for Weston-Super-Mare, emphasised the importance of a long-term approach to guarantee safe water for residents and RNLI volunteers working along the coast.

Parliamentary under-secretary for environment, food and rural affairs, Emma Hardy, concluded the debate by describing the sewage pollution crisis as “a national disgrace.” She attributed the problem to years of under-investment and promised systemic reform. Hardy referenced the Water (Special Measures) Act, which grants regulators enhanced powers to impose stricter penalties, including imprisonment for offenders. She commended citizen scientists for their role in identifying pollution and announced substantial planned investment, including £104 billion from the private sector over the coming five years aimed at upgrading water infrastructure and reducing sewage discharges. Hardy said: “We are stopping the sewage scandal and transforming the water industry from one of decline to one of opportunity.”

The debate laid bare the extensive challenges facing the South West’s water environment and highlighted calls from MPs for urgent reforms, increased investment, and greater regulatory vigilance to protect rivers, aquatic ecosystems, and public health.

Source: Noah Wire Services