97% increase in sewage dumps by Anglian Water last year

New figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Anglian Water which covers Ely & East Cambridgeshire discharged sewage a staggering 31,623 times last year, a 97% rise compared to in 2022. 

Ely & East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers, including replacing Ofwat with a tougher regulator. The party 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 MPs for the area covered by the new Ely & East Cambridgeshire constituency, Steve Barclay and Lucy Frazer.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Ely & East Cambridgeshire, Charlotte Cane said:

“It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into Ely & East Cambridgeshire’s rivers and waterways. 

“Our community should not be forced to put up with this any longer yet time and again this Conservative government has voted against tougher action on sewage dumping. 

"Here in Ely & East Cambridgeshire, the Liberal Democrats have been leading the way in holding water companies to account and have called for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in the Great Ouse and other rivers. In Ely alone there were 77 spills into the Great Ouse, pouring in sewage for 895.97 hours – that’s about 3 days each month. We need to see a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have pumped sewage into our waterways and make sure our local community is protected from this filth."