112% increase in sewage dumps by Thames Water Company last year
New figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Thames Water Company, which covers Runnymede and Weybridge, discharged sewage a staggering 16990 times last year, a 112% rise compared to in 2022. Runnymede and Weybridge Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers/beaches, 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 Conservative Party Deputy Chairman and Runnymede & Weybridge MP, Ben Spencer. Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Runnymede and Weybridge, Ellen Nicholson said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into Runnymede and Weybridge’s rivers and waterways. “Our community should not be forced to put up with this any longer yet time and again this Conservative government has voted against tougher action on sewage dumping. The recent Telegraph article highlights that Weybridge has the worst sewage on the Thames with alarming levels of E-Coli. "Here in Runnymede and Weybridge, the Liberal Democrats have been leading the way in holding water companies to account and have called for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local rivers. We need to see a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways and our local community is protected from this filth."
Liberal Democrat analysis of Environment Agency data can be found here. Source (Environment Agency): https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/21e15f12-0df8-4bfc-b763-45226c16a8ac Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/29/river-thames-water-sewage-leaks-boat-race/ Conservative MPs who voted against tougher action on sewage can be found here. (If voted ‘aye’ it means that the MP voted to allow sewage dumping). |