Council Calls For Full Report Into Southern Water Sewage Failures
Southern Water is being asked to publish the full findings of an investigation into problems at a sewage pumping station on the Isle of Wight.
Isle of Wight Council agreed a series of measures after councillors backed a motion concerning discharges from the company's Springhill pumping station.
The motion, put forward by Labour councillor Jock Rafferty, was passed at a meeting at County Hall on Wednesday (September 16).
It follows sewage pollution incidents in the Medina estuary in May, which affected bathing waters around Cowes, East Cowes and Gurnard at the beginning of the bathing season.
The council will now write to Southern Water chief executive Lawrence Gosden asking for the company's investigation into the Springhill pumping station to be published in full.
It will also seek details of planned investment to improve the site and the wider Medina catchment, including the costs involved and expected timescales.
The council has agreed to ask for independent monitoring of water quality at Cowes, East Cowes and Gurnard throughout the bathing season.
The Environment Agency will also be contacted for an update on its investigation into the May discharges, with the council asking for its findings to be made public once the investigation is complete.
Ofwat, the water industry regulator, is also due to be contacted about the May incidents.
Councillors have additionally agreed to invite Mr Gosden, or another senior Southern Water executive responsible for wastewater operations, to attend a council meeting to answer questions and provide an update.
An amendment put forward by Conservative group leader Councillor Ed Blake was also accepted.
This means Southern Water will be asked to provide a report to the council's environment committee covering water quality in the Island's designated bathing waters.
Councillor Rafferty said the measures were about transparency and accountability, highlighting the importance of coastal waters to public health, the environment and the Island's economy.
Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, leader of the Island First Network, said she supported the motion, while East Cowes independent councillor Karl Love said the town and the wider Medina Valley had been particularly affected by sewage leaks.
During the debate, Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Lilley also raised concerns about discharges from a separate pumping station serving Ryde, Appley and Elmfield.
He said the station had recorded around 1,300 discharges so far this year, compared with around 1,000 during the whole of last year and 20 in 2019.
Southern Water said it takes concerns about its performance on the Isle of Wight "very seriously".
The company said more than £67 million was being invested to improve its environmental performance, including accelerated work to reduce storm overflow releases at eight locations, including Gurnard and West Cowes.
It also said infrastructure was being upgraded, new technology was being trialled and work was taking place with partners to reduce the amount of rainwater entering the sewer network.
Southern Water said these measures were intended to help protect bathing waters around the Island.
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