Call for tougher action on 'complete scandal' of sewage pumped into Horsham rivers

The call comes from Horsham Lib Dems who point out that Environment Agency figures reveal that Southern Water discharged raw sewage for 317,285 hours last year.

Spokesperson John Milne said: “Far from getting better, this is 83 per cent worse than in 2022. It’s the equivalent of releasing sewage for more than 36 years on end.”

As well as tougher action the Lib Dem group are also demandding that Ofwat should be replaced with with a stronger regulator.

John Milne added: “It’s a complete scandal that filthy sewage continues to be pumped into Horsham district’s rivers and waterways.”

And he accused Tory leaders of letting Southern Water “get away with environmental vandalism."

He went on: “We need to replace Ofwat with a regulator that has real teeth to clamp down on these polluting firms.”

John Penicud, Southern Water director for wastewater operations, said: “Slashing the number of storm releases is top priority for us – and our customers.

"Last November we announced our £1.5 billion storm overflow reduction plan which will combine innovative engineering with nature-based solutions.

Have you read? 26 Great photos from Horsham’s Swimarathon … Do you recognise anyone?

New antiques market set to launch in Horsham

“The past 18 months have been the rainiest since records began. The ground is utterly waterlogged in many areas, inundating our own sewers and customers’ drains and sewers.

“We’re extensively relining sewers, to keep sewage in and rainwater out, and our storm release reduction pilot schemes have already proved that nature-based systems can have a real impact.”