FRIENDS of the River Frome has appealed to local MP David Warburton to back a proposal to impose a legal obligation on water companies to ensure sewage is not discharged into rivers.
The local organisation has highlighted the ongoing issue of raw sewage being discharged regularly into the main river – which was recently classified as being in a ‘poor ecological condition’ by the Environment Agency.
The Private Members Bill, The Sewage (Inland Waters) Bil, proposed by MP Philip Dunne, would place a duty on water companies to ensure that untreated sewage is not discharged into rivers and other inland waters. It is scheduled for its second reading in the Houses of Common in January.
The local organisation’s letter to the MP said, “This is an important issue for our local river, the Somerset Frome. Raw sewage is regularly being discharged into the main river and into some of the minor watercourses that run through the town (most are culverted). Our river is currently in a poor or only ‘moderate’ state, (it should be ‘good’), due to agricultural pollution and, in town, sewage discharges.
“In 2019, Wessex Water spent a total of 411 hours on 385 separate occasions, discharging raw sewage into the stretch of the River Frome that runs through town.
“The largest is between Button Bridge and the main Market Place bridge.”
Sharing a photo with the MP of sewage litter that is regularly visible in the small tributary (Adderwell stream) that runs through the public park, owned by Frome Town Council, known as The Dippy, between Adderwell and Culverhill, the organisation’s letter continued, “Two Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) discharge into this. Children paddle in this stream.
“The good news is that most of these discharges are now being monitored, something that the ‘Friends’ requested a while ago and which water companies are now required to do. But the next step will be to reduce and, where feasible, remove these discharges through capital investment for drainage infrastructure renovation. We encourage you to support Mr Dunne’s Bill as this will provide the leadership and framework so needed to achieve the necessary improvements.”
MP David Warburton was approached for comment by Frome Times.
