On Friday 26th August, I met with the engineers and managers at Southern Water to discuss the sewage discharge incident at the Galley Hill pumping station. In addition to discussing this specific failure, and the actions to provide more resilience, we also discussed the issue of storm overflows which have impacted our coast over the years. I invited representatives from Rother District Council, who are responsible for our beach frontage, East Sussex County Council, responsible for local public health, and my neighbouring MP, Sally-Ann Hart.

UK Power Networks faulty asset appears to be responsible for the emergency discharge:

As Southern Water highlighted in their letter to me of the same day, they have traced the fault to a faulty storm pump which caused the restricted earth fault relays to trip. The power equipment appears to have caused earth fault relays to trip. As Southern Water stated in their letter 'We worked with UK Power Networks.... as it was their equipment that had failed, causing our asset to fail.' Using this same rationale, it would appear that the equipment of UK Power Networks caused the pumping station to be shut down and an emergency release of unscreened stormwater to be discharged to the sea. I am awaiting independent verification from UK Power Networks. Southern Water are also awaiting an explanation as to why this occurred. 

Avoiding a repeat emergency discharge:

I sought assurances that matters were in place should there be a repeat incident. I was told that the Chief Executive of Southern Water is himself very exercised that there should not be a repeat at the pumping station. A back-up generator is onsite. This would start operating should the generator get tripped again. The site is also now manned to ensure any issues are instantly detected. For the more medium term, work is being undertaken to ensure that these mechanical issues do not result in the station discharging sewage. The medium to longer term, as with storm overflows, is to find a reduction in surface and stormwater in order to ensure that stations are not overwhelmed. 

Lessons to be learned:

It was recognised during the call that lessons must be learned between the time delay between the emergency release (commencing 2.45 pm) and the notification to Rother District Council (in the early evening). I asked for a system to be put in place to provide an automatic notification so users of the beach are aware at the earliest possible time. This must apply for any storm overflow or emergency incident. I have also asked for our local public health team, at the County Council, to be notified at the same time to enable any mobilisation. 

I was given assurances as to the subsequent testing and quality of the water and other related issues. These are all contained in the written letter to me from Southern Water. 

Government Targets under Environment Act:

Attention then turned to storm overflows and the announcement, on the same day, from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the targets and milestones which must be delivered pursuant to the Environment Act. This legislation, passed last year, places the reduction of sewage discharges on a statutory footing. The Government has stated that these are the 'Strictest targets ever for water companies set out by Government in a new plan to tackle sewage discharges.' By 2035, water companies will have to improve all storm overflows discharging into or near every designated bathing water; and improve 75% of overflows discharging to high-priority nature sites. By 2050, this will apply to all remaining storm overflows covered by our targets regardless of location. There will not be any changes to consumer bills until 2025. The targets will be accompanied by a series of measures which will penalise water companies, and impact on shareholder dividends, for a failure to deliver. None of these targets are a response to the last couple of weeks; they were set following the legislation which required publication by 1 September 2022. 

Please see here for full details on the targets set out by the Government for Water Companies.

Bexhill coastline and Southern Water's response to Govt targets:

I was pleased when Southern Water not only said they would look to hit the storm overflow improvement targets but would deliver 80% by 2030 (rather than just 75% by 2035). When I get back to Parliament, I want to know exactly what 'improvement' means. As far as I am concerned, it needs to be 'eradication'. Bexhill's bathing water is rated 'Sufficient'. In my view, this makes it insufficient. I asked Southern how many of the bathing waters within their coverage area are rated as Excellent or Good. The answer is that 80 out of 84 are in the highest category. Given that Bexhill lags behind the bathing waters which surrounds it, and given we have had another failure to contend with, I've asked that Bexhill be prioritised for the new Government-led targets before the outlets which feed to Excellent or Good bathing waters. This is entirely fair and logical and will go some way to correct the failure that the community has experienced. 

Compensation?

In the meeting, I raised the issue of compensation for local businesses. I recognise that this is generally an insurance issue. Now that the ultimate responsibility appears to reside with UK Power Networks, I will take the matter up with them. 

Next-steps:

I am due to be meeting with the Chief Executives of Southern Water and the Environment Agency in Parliament. This is a meeting I called for on behalf of my other colleagues representing constituencies in Sussex. I also intend to meet with the Ministers once they are appointed by the new Prime Minister. There are more answers required from agencies and regulators. I am determined to avoid a repeat of the emergency discharge caused by the asset failures of this month. I am also determined to get an improvement to Bexhill's bathing waters. Whilst part of this may rest on tackling Southern Water's storm overflows, I would like to see the Environment Agency check on whether there is another cause impacting our waters. I have previously been out with Southern Water's engineers and had it proven to me that no discharges were occurring on that day yet something was wrong with the sea. I'm determined to hold Southern Water to account and also ensure that no other body is getting away with polluting our beautiful coast.