Wessex Water deny sewage leak in River Avon

A video has gone viral in which a woman claims sewage is in the water

There's been increasing reports nationwide this week of sewage being pumped into rivers and the sea
Author: James DiamondPublished 29th Oct 2021

The company behind the sewage system in Bristol and Bath has denied anything has leaked into the River Avon, after a claim on Twitter went viral.

A woman has posted a video online claiming it shows raw sewage floating down stream between Bristol and Bath. It's since been shared thousands of times.

It comes as the workings of sewage systems across the country have been in the news increasingly in recent days.

MPs recently voted to reject an amendment to the Environment Bill, which would have placed a legal duty on water companies to reduce discharges, shooting it down by 265 votes to 202.

That vote sparked a widespread backlash, eventually causing a U-turn by Environment Secretary George Eustice, who has promised the government will bolster measures after all.

On 26 October drone footage was released showing sewage being pumped into Langstone Harbour in Hampshire, reportedly for 49 hours straight.

Meanwhile open water swimmers from Poole recently said repeated discharges of raw sewage into the sea are making them ill.

Responding to the claim about the River Avon though, Wessex Water insist no issues have been found.

"This has been investigated by our team and there are no signs of pollution or issues with our foul sewer network," a spokesperson told us.

“We can also confirm that no storm overflows in the area operated last weekend when the footage was filmed.”

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