Jack Rankin MP has called for urgent action to stop sewage overspills “poisoning” local waterways.
It comes after he recently met with the Eton Wick Waterways Group over effluent overflow from Slough Treatment Works in the Boveney ditch, and residents of The Boltons in Windsor where sewage is filling the Bourne ditch close to their homes.
During his speech, Rankin highlighted the damning statistics of Thames Water’s record locally: “The south-east has suffered disproportionately; in fact, 90% of serious pollution incidents were caused by four companies, with Thames Water—the main provider in my constituency—responsible for more than 17 last year. That is inexcusable.”
He pointed to the “outdated and creaking” sewage infrastructure system which needs “long-term and sustained investment of tens of billions of pounds over decades.”
Ofwat recently announced their final pricing determination for the next five years, which accounts for a £104 billion investment package for infrastructural updates. Rankin said that, while there has been a collective failure by water companies and the regulator who should have ensured the necessary investment was in place long ago, we must face the reality that consumer bills will increase.
He went on to say: “If we expect the public to tolerate price increases, we need a regulator that works. In my view, Ofwat’s determination to keep bills low for consumers has exposed short-term thinking that has led only to higher bills in future. With additional funding, water companies—particularly Thames Water—must show customers that the money is going directly to infrastructure upgrades.”
Rankin concluded his speech by reiterating that clean water must become one of Ofwat’s legal duties, but supported the Water (Special Measures) Bill in its ambition to punish water bosses for failing to stay within environmental regulations regarding sewage.
