Revealed: Over 100 sewage leaks in Government departmental buildings within the last year
EMBARGO: Immediate release
Parliamentary Questions tabled by the Liberal Democrats have revealed civil servants in Whitehall and across the country suffer the same sewage misery as seaside swimmers.
Within the last twelve months there were 138 sewage leaks across the government departmental estate last year, including in Whitehall, York and even Ministry of Defence locations across the country.
The Ministry of Defence suffered the most with 102 sewage leaks from May 2022 to May 2023, including service personnel facing leaks at RAF bases such as Culdrose and RAF Henlow.
In Whitehall, sewage was reported to have leaked at the Cabinet Office, the Department for Education, the Department for Transport, and DWP. “Excessive rainfall” was blamed for the sewage leaks, which included overflowing toilets.
The Liberal Democrats have been urging the government to fix leaking sewage pipes on the coastlines this summer, with families left to swim in polluted water as a result of under investment by water firms.
Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP said:
“Westminster has long been known for its many leaks, but these latest sewage revelations make for unpleasant reading.
“This is another reminder of just how badly the government has failed to tackle the sewage being pumped into our rivers, lakes and coastlines.
“Water firms have repeatedly got away with polluting our treasured wildlife whilst sealing off beaches from the public.
“Whether it's a government building or Blue Flag beach, I think it's time Ministers got a grip of sewage.”
Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said:
“This is grim.
"We already know the Government has lost control of sewage being pumped into our rivers and coastlines, but now it's flowing in Whitehall too.
“The Government has let water firms get away with the sewage scandal for far too long and now it is rife in their own departments.”
"From faulty sewage monitors to bumper CEO bonuses, it feels like water firms are allowed to just get away with it. The public won't stand for it much longer."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Government departments were asked to respond to the following written question tabled by Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain in late May 2023:
To ask the Secretary of State for [department], how many sewage leaks have been recorded within their Department's estate in the last twelve months.
Full text of answers to Parliamentary Questions can be found here:
