Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 11th April 2024 Issue no. 1109
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Council demands immediate action to improve water quality
Growing increasingly concerned about the impact of untreated raw sewage and its possible effect on health, the environment and wildlife as well as on tourism and leisure businesses, Havant Borough Council councillors are demanding immediate action from Southern Water to ensure Hayling Island's beaches - which have held the Blue Flag award for 29 years - are safe for all to use.
The council claims that repeatedly, Southern Water has allowed these untreated releases, which include toilet tissue, wipes etc, to spew out into the harbour following heavy rainfall which may then be washed up onto Hayling's beaches.
Whilst the water quality is checked regularly by the Environment Agency, Havant Borough Council remains extremely concerned on the number of these releases by Southern Water and the amount of debris that is left on the shore.
"Havant Borough Council has today called for immediate action to ensure that water quality at Hayling Island is improved - and that Southern Water invests in its infrastructure as a matter of urgency," says Councillor Michael Wilson, Leader of Havant Borough Council.
"The council is writing to Southern Water to demand something is done as quickly as possible about the current situation.
"We have already called on OFWAT to force Southern Water to invest in its infrastructure, after its record penalty for failures at its sewage treatment sites.
"In the meantime, we want Southern Water to provide us with useful data about water quality and any issues from its treatment plants so that we can, at the very least, warn water-users about any potential issues.
"Our number one priority is always our residents and visitors and their safety is absolutely paramount."
Current advice from Southern Water is to think carefully before entering bathing and recreational waters during or after heavy rain.
Anyone wishing to report pollution anywhere in the UK should contact the Environment Agency's 24-hour incident line on:
T: 0800 80 70 60
W: www.havant.gov.uk
25th July 2019