The number of hours that Southern Water dumped sewage more than doubled last year.

New figures, released by the Environment Agency, have shown that Southern Water which covers Mid Sussex discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 317,285 hours last year, a 116% increase on 2022. 

Mid Sussex Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers, 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 the current MP for Mid Sussex, Mims Davies.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Mid Sussex, Alison Bennett said:

“It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into Mid Sussex’s rivers and waterways. 

“It 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 Sussex rivers and 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."

More information: 

• The latest Environment Agency data can be found here.
• 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).