Bathing Water announcement: Half-baked which does not ban sewage in swimming spots 

27 Feb 2024

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Responding to the government announcing more designated bathing water locations, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron MP said: 

“Conservative Ministers have finally buckled to Liberal Democrat demands for more bathing water sites, but the grim truth is water firms have dumped over 400,000 hours of sewage into swimming spots since 2020. 

“The government has yet again been dragged kicking and screaming to take action on water quality.

“However, this is yet another half baked announcement, which does not ban water firms from dumping sewage into bathing water areas. 

“This can’t be another PR trick by the Conservative party on water quality. Right now swimmers are getting sick from sewage being piled into bathing water sites.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Government announcment

Analysis of Environment Agency data by the Liberal Democrats 

England

Dumps affecting bathing waters

 

Total - 2020, 2021 & 2022

Water company

Spills

Hours

Anglian Water

2,615

3,976

Northumbrian Water

5,517

23,262

Southern Water

6,301

44,481

South West Water

23,059

142,772

Thames Water

283

3,831

United Utilities

31,464

221,376

Wessex Water

3,089

19,775

Yorkshire Water

1,656

6,916

Total

73,984

466,389

N.B. Severn Trent recorded no spills in Bathing Water in 2020, 2021 and 2022

 

 


 

 

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