Parties ‘united in anger’ over water company’s performance
Council sends strong message to firm after sewage dumpings
Councillors have agreed to send a ‘strong and united message’ to Southern Water and its majority stakeholder Macquarie Asset Management to express their anger over its track record on sewage dumping.
The water company was fined £90million after pleading guilty to illegal sewage discharges in rivers and coastal waters across Kent, Hampshire and Sussex between 2010 and 2015.
Residents have raised concerns over storm and wastewater discharges and the potential impact on bathing water quality.
During a meeting of Arun District Council’s environment and neighbourhood services committee last Thursday, members resolved to write to the water company.
Council leader Shaun Gunner (Con, Rustington East) said both the council’s Liberal Democrats and Conservatives were ‘united in our anger against Southern Water’s crimes’.
He said: “Southern Water, who are benefiting from significant profits, are doing this knowingly without the consent of residents, without the consent of businesses, or any consent from this council or town or parish councils.
“As the leader of the council I am angry and I want to see Southern Water answer for it and tell us what they’re going to do to stop this.
“We must send a strong and united message.”
SouthernWaterwillbeasked to give a reason for any storm and wastewater discharges in Arun and a timescale for infrastructure improvements to reduce discharges.
Arun is also seeking reassurance sewerage and other infrastructure will be able to accommodate future demand – especially as the need for housing increases.
It is also asking the company to extend its multimillion pound Bathing Water Enhancement Programme – which aims to reduce the impact of waste water on bathing spots – to more areas across the district.
The council also wants to be notified when a sewage overflow occurs, so it can inform the public of when to avoid bathing spots.
Council officers said a roundtable discussion with Southern Water could be beneficial.
The letter will also include points made in Dr James
Walsh’s (LDem, Beach) motion.
It will ask Southern Water to cease illegal discharges, separate rainwater drainage from sewage and accommodate all new housing with a main sewer connection.
Dr Walsh said: “There is great concern that Southern Water has again been fined a substantial sum of money.
“The time has come to take some strong action, hopefully with other local authorities in the area. A lot of our sewage infrastructure is at breaking point and we need to get them [Southern Water] to accommodate all the proposed new housebuilding with sewage connections.”