Sewage Pollution

Bexhill beach sewage

For too long, our waterways and seas have had sewage discharged into them, with our homes and streets experiencing sewage overflows. This is an unacceptable situation. More investment to increase capacity in the waste water system is urgently needed to prevent this disgusting pollution of our water and prevent sewerage overflowing from manholes in times of heavy rain.

What causes sewage discharges? How bad is it currently? What is the Government doing to improve things?

  • I have published a series of Frequently Asked Questions about sewage discharges.
  • Here you will find background information on our sewage systems, details on the current quality of our bathing waters, and the investment Government is making to improve the current situation.
  • If, like me, you have signed up for the Environment Agency pollution alerts and the Surfers Against Sewage alerts, you will have been dismayed by the number of alerts you have received, particularly this summer.
  • These alerts, however, are confusing because they point out the additional risk caused by the potential for stormy weather. Many residents confuse this alert for actual sewage discharges. I have published further information on Environment Agency Pollution Risk Forecasts - what do they actually mean?

What have you been doing to tackle this issue?

  • In 2021, I was one of 22 Conservative MPs who rebelled against the then Government to support a House of Lords amendment to the Environment Bill.
  • That amendment would have put a legal duty on sewage companies to take reasonable steps to eradicate sewage discharges.
  • Although the amendment was defeated, the Government reflected and subsequently amended the Bill to place a legal duty on waste water companies to bring an end to the practice of discharging sewage into rivers and the sea during times of heavy rainfall.
  • You can read more about Why I supported tougher measures to tackle sewage discharges. 
  • Last year, I led a debate in Parliament where I put forward a number of proposals to the Environment Minister that would help to expedite the removal of sewage from sea and rivers through combined sewer overflows.
  • My key ask was to ensure that all agencies involved in water quality, sewage and surface water removal have a statutory duty to work collectively to reduce sewage spills and storm outflows which blight the quality of bathing water and rivers. 
  • You can read more about my Sewage Discharges Debate in Parliament.
  • During this time, I have also been working hard locally with Southern Water, the Environment Agency, and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure that we remain on track to make progress in this area.

Where can I find out more?

  • You can more information about what I have been doing to tackle sewage pollution in the News section below.

News

Statement from Southern Water

I was appalled to learn of Wednesday’s combined sewage outfall incidents, and a separate, very serious, sewage discharge incident which occurred at the Southern Water Treatment works at Galley Hill, resulting in the closure of beaches at Bexhill and Normans Bay on health and safety grounds.

Sussex MPs demand an end to ‘unacceptable’ Sewage Discharge

MPs from across Sussex have written to Southern Water and the Environment Agency demanding that the Sussex waterways and coast ‘are respected and protected.’

In the letter, the MPs state “Once again, the rivers and coastline across Sussex are being blighted by the discharge of sewage”.

MPs meet with CEO of Southern Water

The cleanliness of our bathing waters was again the focus at a recent meeting held by local MPs Sally-Ann Hart and Huw Merriman with Ian McAulay, CEO of Southern Water together with other Southern Water Heads of Department.

Back to a frenetic Westminster

We’re back in Parliament after the Easter recess. The last couple of weeks gave me the opportunity to get out and meet people in the constituency who are doing great things for the community. I spent time with Southern Water engineers who are checking the sea outlets in Bexhill for raw sewage.

Huw writes to Southern Water About Sewage in Local Waters

Local MP Huw Merriman has written to the Chief Executive Officer of Southern Water to ask how the company plans to reduce the adverse impact of sewage discharges that impact sea water in Bexhill alongside local rivers, streams and households when storm-surges occur. 

Constituency first and party second

This last fortnight has been one when I’ve had to make the case to my own Government about some changes which I feel will make our waterways and coast cleaner and our motorways safer. It’s been a time where I have had to put constituency loyalty first and party second.  

MP Welcomes Action on ‘Disgusting’ Sewage Discharges

Bexhill and Battle constituency MP, Huw Merriman, has welcomed a new legal duty which will require water companies to tackle sewage discharges into streams, rivers and the sea in times of heavy rainfall.