Windsor MP, Jack Rankin recently met with Erica Popplewell, Head of Communities at River Action to discuss the levels of sewage in rivers across his constituency.
Much of the UK operates under a combined sewage system, where effluent and rainwater are in the same system. This means that when reaching capacity due to excess rainwater, the nature of these systems is they must spill over – and essentially there are two options as to where the sewage goes - either back into peoples’ homes or into rivers.
Due to population growth and generally wetter weather due to climate change, this inevitability of our sewage system has resulted in sewage entering local rivers on a more frequent basis.
River Action said that there has not been the necessary investment from the water companies in infrastructure to accompany the population growth and wetter weather, so this is now happening far too much - as opposed to very rarely, as should be the case.
Jack is determined to work to resolve this issue. First and foremost, the capacity of the sewage system needs to be significantly increased with sustained investment.
He is also advocating for Ofwat’s powers to be toughened. This will enable them to push water companies into making this necessary long-term investment into our sewage system and that dividends paid to shareholders and bonuses to executives can only be paid in the appropriate circumstances.
He will also be advocating for change via the Water (Special Measures) Bill and the Infrastructure Bill. The former is a shorter-term bill which should restrict bonuses to executives if they are not meeting their environmental objectives, the latter a longer-term plan for investment.
Jack is currently in the process of arranging a meeting with Thames Water to speak with them about Slough Sewage Treatment Works specifically.
Commenting, Jack said:
“Many of my constituents have rightly raised the level of sewage in our local rivers.
“I will be campaigning to secure the long term and sustained investment required to tackle this issue in our sewage system head-on.
“Part of this will involve toughening Ofwat’s powers so they can apply the pressure to water companies, ensuring that they commit to this investment.
“I will also be raising this with Thames Water – as the situation at the Slough Sewage Treatment Works on Dorney Common near Eton Wick is unacceptable and urgent investment is required.”
