Warning signs on beaches as 40 Southern Water tanks tackle burst sewer pipe in Bognor Regis
ITV Meridian's Andy Dickenson has the latest on the sewage spill
An emergency operation has been carried out in Bognor Regis following a major sewage leak.
Around 40 Southern Water tankers were deployed to remove wastewater for treatment after a sewage pipe burst north of the town, flooding a field on Wednesday night (17 May).
The company said the issue has been contained but warning signs have been put up on local beaches.
Shareholders will initially fund the £10 billion cost of the biggest modernisation of sewers since they were built in the Victorian era, but customer's bills will rise to pay them back.
Bognor Regis resident, Julia Macfarlane, has not accepted the most recent apology by water companies for not acting quickly enough to tackle spills.
She said: "They've given out bonuses to their bosses and dividends to their shareholders and they've not invested like they were expected to invest and I also think that they now write the fines into their accounts as an expense and it's not, they've been illegal and someone should actually be in prison for it not just saying sorry."
Sarah Shreeve, Stop the Sewage said: "It's so inappropriate in a cost of living crisis that people have already been paying their water bills for years whilst the water companies have been polluting harbours like this one that's now in real danger of die off and ecological damage and now they're going to increase people's water bills to pay for the improvements in a year that they've posted record profits."
Ruth Kelly, Water UK said: "Ultimately the judgement of how much goes on bills is one for Ofwat, our independent regulator. We'll submit the proposals to them, they will challenge us to do this as efficiently and effectively as we possibly can.
"We're really aware of the cost of living pressures that there are on families at the moment - there won't be any change or hike in bills over the next couple of years."
In a statement, Southern Water said: "We are currently dealing with a burst sewer pipe in a rural area close to Yapton Road, north of Bognor Regis. Repairs are ongoing and specialist teams have been working round the clock to minimise any impact of this flooding on the environment.
"The tankers are safely removing wastewater from the network and from the flooded field for treatment at our sites.
"Whilst we are confident that we have largely contained this flooding, as a precautionary measure, Arun District Council has decided to place warning notices on the shore at Middleton, Bognor and Felpham to provide members of the public with information about the incident.
"We continue to work closely with the local authority and Environment Agency, while the pipe is fixed and the clean-up completed. We are very sorry for any distress caused."
In a statement, Arun District Council said: "Whilst they [Southern Water] are confident that they have largely contained this flooding, as a precautionary measure, we, Arun District Council have decided to place warning notices on the shore at Middleton-on-Sea, Bognor Regis and Felpham to provide members of the public with information about the incident.
"Southern Water continue to work closely with us and the Environment Agency, while the pipe is fixed and the clean-up completed. They are very sorry for any distress caused."
In a statement, South East Water said: "South East Water is in the fourth of a five year investment programme which is seeing £489 million being spent on the very latest water testing technology to meet rigorous water quality regulations, the replacement of underground pipes and leakage control, developing new water resources and the introduction of new treatment processes.
"From April 23 to March 24 the company will be investing more than £100 million, to continue to improve the service it gives to its customers. Major projects to be started or underway from April include:
A brand new water treatment works in Aylesford, Kent
Expansion of Bewl Water Treatment Works situated on the boundary between Kent and Sussex
Start of construction for a new water main in Kent linking Wellwood to Potters Corner boosting supplies to the Ashford area.
Improvement work at College Avenue Water Treatment Works, Maidenhead, Berkshire
"The company is in the final stages of publishing its Water Resource Management Plan which sets out how we’d provide a reliable and resilient supply of drinking water during the next 50 years through new infrastructure which includes new storage reservoirs, desalination plants, water recycling and strategic transfers from other regions."
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