Lib Dems Call for Sewage Tax To Save River Wandle

Local Lib Dem campaigner, Bobby Dean, was joined by Lib Dem Leader, Ed Davey, on a tour of the River Wandle and called for a Sewage Tax to prevent dumping in the river.

Last month a local flyfisher highlighted a sewage dumping incident in the River Wandle, sparking outrage at the behaviour of various water companies.

The water companies making billions in profit were responsible for nearly 400,000 sewage dumping events in 2020 alone, according to the Environment Agency. 

The Liberal Democrats are demanding a ‘Sewage Tax’ of 16% on water companies to create an emergency fund for cleaning up rivers. 

Thames Water dumped sewage into the River Wandle an estimated 73 times in 2020. The Lib Dem Sewage Tax proposal would see Thames Water pay £70 million out of the £434m they made in pre-tax profits in 2020.

Bobby Dean, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Carshalton & Wallington, said:

“I live right by the Wandle and walk my dog along the river trail every day. It’s heartbreaking to see sewage dumped in the river.

“Our precious chalk stream is under threat from these sewage dumps. But Conservative Ministers are sitting on their hands and just letting water companies get away with it. It makes me angry.”

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said:

“Given their poor record on sewage, the water industry’s staggering profit numbers will alarm millions of people who care about our environment.

“A big chunk of these profits should have been reinvested to protect Britain’s streams and rivers, instead of letting disgusting sewage dumps continue. The whole thing stinks. 

 “It is time to act. The water companies should pay to clean up their mess and Ministers should pass the laws to make it happen”