Jess Brown-Fuller MP Demands Transparency from Environment Agency over River Lavant Pollution

Jess Brown-Fuller has written to both the Environment Agency and Southern Water demanding greater transparency over the continued pollution of the River Lavant, warning that without clearer regulatory oversight the vulnerable chalk stream's ecological health will keep declining.

Jess' intervention follows Environment Agency data showing that Southern Water's Lavant treatment works spilled partially treated or untreated sewage 166 times in 2025, totalling 3,582.9 hours. Although a reduction on previous years, local citizen scientists continue to report persistently high levels of phosphates and other pollutants in the river.

Jess Brown-Fuller has written to Southern Water demanding greater transparency over the continued pollution of the River Lavant.

Last year, Jess Brown-Fuller had visited the River Lavant with local councillors to discuss protecting the winterbourne chalk stream and explore the potential for wider use of nature-based water treatment solutions.

Southern Water has recently invested in a wetland at the Lavant treatment works, which it says naturally filters out harmful nutrients before storm release. Brown-Fuller welcomed the effort but said that without independently verified data, it remains difficult to judge how effective the wetland truly is, particularly during high-flow events.

In her letter, she pressed the Environment Agency to provide data on the efficacy of nature-based solutions such as the wetland, a full breakdown of the sources of nitrates and phosphates entering the river, including wastewater, agricultural runoff and other catchment contributions, and clarity on the current regulatory position on phosphates, including whether enforceable limits for the Lavant are planned and on what timeline.

She has also asked for details of any long-term plans or interventions aimed at protecting the river for future generations.