New figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Anglia Water that covers South Suffolk discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 271,465 hours last year, a 203% increase on 2022.
South Suffolk 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 MP for South Suffolk, James Cartlidge.
Liberal Democrat spokesperson for South Suffolk Tom Bartleet said:
“It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into South Suffolk’s rivers and waterways.
“It’s 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/beaches 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."