Tackling the Sewage Scandal

Sewage discharges from Thames Water facilities in Surrey Heath remain a serious environmental and public health concern. A Freedom of Information request revealed that between July 2024 and March 2025, sewage was discharged for more than 543 hours across Camberley, Chobham, Pirbright and Lightwater — averaging over two hours per day.

The Times has reported that every Thames Water treatment facility in Surrey Heath is inadequate and requires significant investment. Al has called for full transparency on how Thames Water’s £1.25 billion investment programme is being spent locally to upgrade infrastructure and prevent further pollution.

The Liberal Democrats are pushing for a major overhaul of the water sector, including replacing the current regulatory system with a new Clean Water Authority and requiring companies to publish the true volume of sewage discharged, not just the duration.

On 11 April 2025, Al met representatives at Thames Water’s Camberley treatment facility to discuss the 2023 “Great Stink”, infrastructure failures and environmental remediation. He continues to campaign for cleaner waterways, stronger regulation and long-term infrastructure investment across Surrey Heath.