New figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Wessex Water, which covers Somerset, discharged sewage a staggering 41,453 times last year, an 89% rise compared to 2022.

Somerset's Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers, including replacing Ofwat with a stricter regulator. The party has also called for a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis.

According to the Environment Agency figures, there were 5,501 sewage spills in the River Parrett area in the past year. 151 of these occurred at Sparkford, totalling 1,346 hours. In the Frome area, sewage was spilt into Nunney Brook 104 times, totalling 1771 hours.

Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat MP for Somerton and Frome and the party's parliamentary candidate for Glastonbury and Somerton, said: "It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into Somerton and Frome's rivers and waterways.

 "It beggars belief that Conservative MPs have allowed water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism. Local people are furious that Conservative politicians blocked tougher action on these disgraced firms.

"I've taken the Conservatives to task over the dumping of raw sewage in our local rivers and I'll continuing doing so."

Anna Sabine, Liberal Democrat candidate for Frome and East Somerset, said: "Our community should not be forced to put up with this any longer yet time and again this Conservative government has voted against tougher action on sewage dumping.

"The Liberal Democrats are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local rivers, including replacing Ofwat with a regulator that has real teeth to clamp down on these polluting firms. We have also called for a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways."

The latest Environment Agency data can be found here.

MPs who voted against tougher action on sewage can be found here. (If voted 'aye' it means that the MP voted to allow sewage dumping).