Lib Dems: Thames Water’s apology is far too late after years of sewage scandal

In a statement issued through Water UK on Thursday 18th May, water and sewage companies admitted to dragging their heels on taking action to stop sewage discharges into our coastlines, rivers and lakes.

The apology from Thames Water came on the same day they appeared before Lambeth’s Council’s Scrutiny Committee. 

Leader of Lambeth Liberal Democrats, Cllr Donna Harris, said that the apology comes far too late, and that it is meaningless unless the firm is completely reformed. 

On Tuesday evening, Cllr Harris attended an event for Liberal Democrat MPs, Councillors and campaigners listening to leading experts including MP Tim Farron and post-punk activist Feargal Sharkey. 

Photographs this week showed that Lambeth’s River Wandle is heavily polluted. Cllr Ben Curtis, who sits on the Scrutiny Committee for the Liberal Democrats, grilled the water company on why sewage was pumped into the Wandle for over 430 hours in 2022. Only 21 of 37 storm overflow sites along the Wandle are monitored. Cllr Curtis pushed Thames Water to publish a timeline for when 100 percent coverage would be achieved. 

The Committee also addressed Thames Water’s poor record of repairing leaks. Roads in Lambeth were closed for 6,127 days last year and the Council issued Thames Water with 268 fines for overrunning works. 

Thames Water confessed that they are “fully aware” that their performance in relation to road works and the fines they have received for permit breaches is “not good enough”. 

The Liberal Democrats are calling for water firms to become “public benefit companies,” making environmental goals more important than profits, and making it compulsory for environmental experts to sit on their company boards. 

Lambeth Liberal Democrats are also demanding an apology from the Government for voting down tougher action on water firms. 

Leader of Lambeth Council’s Liberal Democrat Opposition Group, Cllr Donna Harris, said:

“The level of abuse and profiteering by water companies is truly horrific. Thames Water are putting public health at risk and shrugging off fines for disrupting residents’ lives as though it means nothing. 

This apology is meaningless unless the firm is completely reformed from top to bottom. Protecting the environment should be more important than making overseas investors rich. 

To add insult to injury, the inactivity and absolute failure of this Conservative Government to hold anyone to account is wholly unforgivable. The Government has spent recent years voting down tougher action on polluting water firms. They too owe people an apology.”