116.1% increase in hours of sewage dumped by Southern Water last year

Liz Jarvis, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Eastleigh, is calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers, including replacing Ofwat with a tougher regulator. She has also called for a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis, including the current MP for Eastleigh, Paul Holmes.

Liz Jarvis said:

“It is a complete scandal that Southern Water is continuing to pump filthy sewage into our rivers and waterways, and yet the Government has consistently failed to hold them to account.

“So many residents have told me their concerns about pollution in our local waterways including our precious chalk stream the River Itchen.

“It beggars belief that Conservative MPs have allowed water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism and that water companies are trying to pass costs onto the public. The polluters should pay. Local people here in Eastleigh are furious that Conservative politicians blocked tougher action on these disgraced firms.

"The Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local rivers and coastlines including replacing OfWat with a regulator that has real teeth to clamp down on these polluting firms. We have also called for a ban on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways.

“This total failure to get a grip on the sewage crisis is yet another symptom of a failing Government. We need a General Election."