Green Party councillors in Bath and North East Somerset have tabled a motion calling on the council to express no confidence in Wessex Water following extensive sewage pollution incidents. The motion, scheduled for a vote at the council meeting on 17 September, criticises the water company, which serves Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, and the Bristol area, for spilling untreated sewage for thousands of hours last year. It also notes the £80,000 pay rise awarded to the company’s chief executive despite a ban on bonuses.
If the motion passes, the council would officially declare its lack of confidence in Wessex Water and request that company executives attend a council scrutiny panel to answer questions about sewage management. Additionally, it would urge the council leader to write to the government advocating for the nationalisation of water companies.
The motion describes the ongoing sewage crisis as a “national scandal,” lamenting a failure by successive governments to implement effective measures. It refers to similar actions elsewhere, including Cornwall Council’s July vote of no confidence in South West Water due to its poor management of sewage infrastructure, leading to untreated discharges at popular beaches. Over 60 town and parish councils in Cornwall have backed the Dowr Glan campaign, meaning “clean water” in Cornish.
READ MORE: Update on Income Tax Personal Allowance and HMRC Childcare Rules Explained
READ MORE: Former Mayor of Bath Remains Councillor Despite Announced Resignation
In Wiltshire, another area served by Wessex Water, councillors reported that children fell ill after swimming in polluted rivers, with some hospitalised for two days. In response, Bath and North East Somerset Council unanimously backed a charter calling for the protection of the River Avon from pollution in July.
Figures from the Rivers Trust reveal that Wessex Water’s storm overflows discharged untreated sewage for 190,666 hours in 2025. These overflows are designed to release excess rainwater and sewage into rivers and seas during heavy rainfall to prevent sewer backups.
Wessex Water states on its website that while storm overflows have traditionally been a part of the UK’s sewer network and have minimal impact on water quality, they acknowledge these are unsuitable for modern standards. The company highlights the challenges involved in immediately eliminating all overflows, citing potential major disruptions, significant cost increases in water bills, and the need for extensive roadworks.
To address these issues, Wessex Water has committed to stopping environmental harm caused by untreated sewage discharges. The company is prioritising improvements on the most frequently used storm overflows and those causing environmental damage, investing £8.5 million per month in overflow enhancement projects over the next five years.