SARAH Dyke MP (Lib Dems, Glastonbury and Somerton) visited Wessex Water sites last week to see how new technology will be used to reduce the amount of nutrients, including phosphate, that enter rivers and streams in Somerset.

Over 20 Wessex Water sites across the Glastonbury and Somerton constituency are set to receive upgrades that will increase the amount of phosphorus that is captured before it enters the river.

Whilst some of these upgrades are simply to comply with standards that have tightened because of new, better technology, there is hope that others will help unlock new housing in Somerset.

Approximately 18,000 homes across Somerset are in limbo as developers need to secure additional mitigation to stop any increase of phosphates on the Somerset Levels and Moors.

Ms Dyke said: “River pollution in Somerset threatens our natural environment and our ability to build homes.

“A typical house in Somerset costs almost nine times the typical annual wage. We must make homes more affordable, and that means building new houses.

“Taking the housing crisis seriously means reducing the amount of river pollution, and I was reassured to see that Wessex Water are working to reduce phosphate levels.

“Our water industry needs top to bottom reform. That must start with abolishing Ofwat and replacing it with a new regulator with real teeth to clampdown on those firms causing pollution, end the sewage scandal and get bill payers the fair deal they deserve.”

“The Liberal Democrats have policies to tackle the sewage scandal, including transforming water companies into public benefits companies, and we will fight hard to introduce them if water companies cannot be trusted to do so themselves.

“Ending the sewage scandal was a central pillar of our manifesto this election, and the record number of Liberal Democrat MPs that were elected shows that voters care deeply about it.”

The Liberal Democrats say they are deeply concerned about the levels of water pollution across the UK, especially given Natural England has reported that just 14% of our waterways are in good condition.