According to Environment Agency data analyzed by the Lib Dems, sewage monitoring devices installed by UK water companies did not work “90% of the time” or were not installed at all. Dozens of pollution warnings were put in place at beaches and swimming spots in England and Wales this week after heavy rain overwhelmed sewage systems, prompting water companies to release sewage into the environment. Ministers are under pressure to pressure water companies criticized for not investing money back into the UK’s aging water infrastructure. The data shows Anglian Water has the highest failure rate, with 49% of all its sewage discharges unmetered due to faulty or uninstalled screens, according to the Lib Dems. They are followed by South West Water with 30% and Severn Trent Water with 29%. One in eight of South West Water’s sewage monitors installed at designated bathing locations across Cornwall and Devon are either faulty or not installed, the party said. In Sussex, Southern Water was found to have failed completely to install one at the popular seaside spot of Littlehampton Pier, while one in Seaford only worked a third of the time. Read more: Huge rise in raw sewage released into UK waterways and sea, figures reveal Lib Dems environment spokesman Tim Farron MP said: “These water companies could be guilty of gross negligence by failing to install effluent monitoring devices. “This is a national scandal and these new figures smack of a cover-up. Britain’s seaside resorts are being flooded with sewage, yet the government is nowhere to be found.” Subscribe to ClimateCast on Spotify, Apple Podcast or Spreaker. In response to the matter, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published a response earlier this week outlining the actions it is taking. Water Minister Steve Double said: “We are the first government to take action to tackle sewage overflows. “We are clear that water companies’ reliance on overflows is unacceptable and they need to significantly reduce the amount of waste water they discharge as a matter of priority. “This is on top of the ambitious action we have already taken, including the consultation on water quality improvement targets, which will act as a powerful tool to deliver cleaner water, pushing all water companies to go further and further quickly to fix overflows. “Work to deal with the sewage overflow continues apace and we will publish our plan in line with the statutory deadline of September 1.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:40 Sewage alerts keep swimmers away A spokesman for Anglian Water said: “After investing more than £300 million over the last decade, all but three of the places designated for swimming in our area have been rated as good or excellent for bathing water quality and have all EDM monitors installed. “Work to install EDM screens at all CSOs (combined sewer overflows) across our region is ahead of schedule as part of our National Water Industry Environment Program as agreed with the Environment Agency. “We will have full coverage in all CSOs by the end of 2023.” Southern Water, South West Water and Severn Trent Water were approached for comment.
