Sewage dumped on Blue Flag beaches 1,500 times last year

EMBARGO: 00:01 Tuesday 4th April

New analysis of the latest Environment Agency data by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that water companies in England have dumped sewage near England’s Blue Flag beaches 1,504 times last year, lasting an astonishing 8,497 hours last year. 

Blue Flag status is an international mark of recognition that a beach is deemed safe and environmentally friendly. However these new findings raise fears of water pollution for swimmers and wildlife. 

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey will today visit a beach in Eastbourne, meeting local dog walkers to discuss concerns about water pollution. Across the Sussex seaside town, there were 77 sewage discharges lasting 454 hours last year. 

In Sussex, near Brighton Beach which has Blue Flag status, Southern Water discharged sewage a staggering 45 times last year - lasting over 107 hours. 

A Liberal Democrat parliamentary question revealed Southern Water, the regional water company, breached their sewage permits 195 times last year, up from 77 the year before.

The Liberal Democrats are demanding an end to sewage discharges near Blue Flag beaches. The party is also calling for water company exec bonuses to be banned for any firm found to breach permits. Liberal Democrat analysis of Company House records finds water bosses paid themselves a staggering £24.8 million, including £14.7 million in bonuses, benefits and incentives in 2021/2022.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

"Britain's beaches are being ruined by profiteering water companies getting away with dumping sewage as the Government has failed to act for years. Whilst these firms have been raking in multi-billion pound profits, people have been left to swim in raw sewage. The whole thing stinks. 

“Therese Coffey has had six months in the job and failed to take any meaningful action on these companies. It is clear she simply doesn’t care about our country’s rivers and seas and should therefore resign or be sacked. What is the point of an Environment Secretary who doesn’t care about the environment?

"Conservative MPs have shown time and again that they couldn’t care less about our rivers and coastlines. This Government is as guilty as the water companies in allowing this national nature scandal.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Full list of sewage discharges on Blue Flag beaches in England (Including the Isle of Wight), according to the latest Environment Agency data released last week

Top 5 worst sewage discharges near Blue Flag beaches in mainland England