Furious locals in the pretty English town of Winchester have been left furious after they were told to stop flushing their toilets during heavy rainfall.
Locals were told to stop doing so by Conservative MP Flick Drummond. In a political leaflet, Ms Drummond reportedly suggested that Meon Valley residents needed “to be more sensible… to help with the capacity in our sewers”.
The I reported that the leaflet added: “It would help if people did not discharge wastewater – such as baths, flushing loos, even using machines in heavy downpours – this all contributes to the amount of water going down the sewers.”
Furious campaigners have criticised the suggestion in the leaflet.
CEO of River Action UK James Wallace said: “The sentiment to reduce pressure on our river-polluting sewage infrastructure is meant well.
“However, the target should be restructuring profiteering water companies and reforming under-resourced regulators, not throwing customers out with the bathwater.
“Fourteen years of austerity, cronyism and cutting red tape has turned a crisis into a national scandal. With the general election on the horizon, flushing the current Government down the loo would be a good start.”
The Hampshire Chronicle reported that Surfers Against Sewage’s Josh Harris added: “Frankly, it’s a joke that this isn’t a joke.”
Mr Harris added: “This is a ridiculous attempt to distract, and blame, the public for a sewage scandal perpetrated by profiteering water companies who abandoned their environmental responsibilities in favour of lining shareholder pockets. We need deep-rooted systemic change, not more sticking plasters.”
Following the tidal wave of criticism, Ms Drummond has backed her comments. In a statement, she said: “I am a politician who is not scared of telling the truth.
“Until we have a sewage system that can cope with new homes, increased wastewater, and climate change – something this government is forcing water companies to do – I would think the advice to limit wastewater during heavy rain to stop the use of storm overflows makes sense.
“People, especially opposition politicians, can’t have it both ways. They express concern about pollution in our rivers and seas but when presented with advice to help the situation in the short term they don’t like it. We all produce wastewater and we should all take responsibility for it.”
Ms Drummond added: “Not using certain appliances or flushing the toilet during heavy rain is free of charge and the right thing to do. It’s not even an imposition.
“What is also not mentioned by the irresponsible Lib Dems is stopping storm overflows overnight would mean raw sewage backing up in homes, schools and hospitals. Imagine the outcry if that happened.
“Everyone wants clean rivers and seas. This government is committed to doing so. It has insisted on 100 per cent monitoring of river health from this year, it has ensured water companies that pollute are fined heavily; it has forced water companies to invest billions in improving water treatment; it has passed the groundbreaking Environment Act to protect our wildlife, air, soil and water for generations to come.”
Following Ms Drummond’s comments, the Liberal Democrat candidate Danny Chambers responded: “People in Winchester and the Meon Valley are really worried about the long-term impact of raw sewage on our rivers, ecosystems and wildlife.
“If elected Winchester’s MP, I will fight to reform the water industry so it is fit for purpose. Winchester deserves better than the raw deal they are getting with the current state of water management in this country.”
