Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde has urged the Environment Agency to expand their criminal investigation into Southern Water to include wastewater releases from their treatment works in the town.

A brief pump failure at the works, caused by heavy rainfall over a short period of time on Thursday morning (August 27), led to water discharging through storm outflows “closer to the beach than normal”.

Mr Babarinde posted a tidal modelling map on Facebook that appeared to show direct discharge into the sea at Langney Point - a common swimming and fishing spot.

The MP called the discharge ‘an utter disgrace’, claiming Southern Water has ‘failed over decades to invest in its capacity to treat more water’.

Josh Babarinde has urged the Environment Agency to expand their criminal investigation into Southern Water to include Eastbourne's water treatment works. Photo: Jon Rigby

placeholder image — Josh Babarinde has urged the Environment Agency to expand their criminal investigation into Southern Water to include Eastbourne's water treatment works. Photo: Jon Rigby

Mr Babarinde said: “Southern Water must rapidly accelerate investment expanding capacity at the treatment works way before the 2031 start date they’ve pencilled in.

“I believe it may be the case that Eastbourne needs to be served by a new, modern water treatment works altogether (I have consistently been told by experts that an overwhelmingly small and underground treatment facility like Poo Castle would never be built today because of all the problems they have).

“I’m also urging the Environment Agency to expand their criminal investigation into Southern Water’s failures at Eastbourne’s Water Treatment works to include this appalling incident.”

Southern Water has said that staff will remain on site ‘24/7’ until Tuesday, September 1 as a precaution while further rainfall is forecast to ensure it is running as normal.

A 2012 picture taken of Langney Point - where the wastewater discharge was recorded. Photo: Stephen Curtis

A spokesperson for the water company said: “During intense rainfall in the early hours of Thursday morning in Eastbourne, storm overflows operated at our Eastbourne Wastewater Treatment Works.

“Eastbourne received 38mm of rain in around six hours, resulting in exceptionally high flows into the wastewater treatment works. Flows exceeded 2,500 litres per second, compared with a typical 150-200 litres per second at that time of day, leading to releases from the Long Sea Outfall, Mid Sea Outfall and Short Sea Outfall.

“Tidal modelling confirmed any impact to Eastbourne and Pevensey Bay bathing waters had dispersed by 8am. As a precaution, beach inspections and independent water quality sampling were carried out, with no issues identified.”

In July, The Environment Agency commenced criminal proceedings against four former employees from Southern Water, including ex-CEO Matthew Wright – each facing a charge of conspiracy to defraud.

An Environment Agency statement released in July read: “It is alleged that, between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2017, the individuals conspired to defraud the Environment Agency and Ofwat by the implementation of artificial no-flow events at waste water treatment works operated by Southern Water to manipulate the Operator Self-Monitoring (OSM) compliance testing regime.

“Conspiracy to defraud is a common law offence carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment. The case will now proceed before the Medway Magistrates Court.”

OSM was introduced for the water industry in 2009 and requires water companies to take samples at their wastewater treatment works and report the results to the Environment Agency.

Strict rules govern how samples must be taken to ensure their independence and accuracy, and it is an offence if evidence shows flows or data to be deliberately manipulated to avoid compliance checks.