Eastbourne MP 'appalled' by plastic pollution incident at Wastewater Treatment Works

Josh Babarinde MP has met with Southern Water to demand answers following the spill of millions of plastic bio-beads.

Eastbourne Wastewater Treatment Works is one of a small number of regional plants that uses a Biological Aerated Flooded Filter (BAFF) process. The system uses small plastic bio-beads as a surface for bacteria growth, to help break down waste.

During Storm Benjamin, a gap in the mesh at one of the treatment tanks allowed some of these bio-beads to spill out to sea.

Camber Sands was worst affected, with smaller amounts found at Pevensey, Hastings, Winchelsea and St Mary's Bay.

A recent beach clean at Langney Point found no evidence of bio-beads.

Around 2% of the total bio-beads used were released (approximately 40 tons), with Southern Water still calculating the exact figure to help guide the ongoing clean-up.

Josh said: "Southern Water told me that 70–80% of the beads have now been cleared, though further spring tides may continue to wash more ashore. They have 35 individuals working on the clean up operation today.

"They are working closely with the Environment Agency and Rother District Council, who are leading the clean-up effort. Hydraulic modelling has also been completed to understand where any remaining beads may drift."

Southern Water have stated that the beads are made from industrial plastic and are not chemically toxic. 

"Southern Water has commissioned an independent engineering company to investigate the cause of the failure and will monitor the Eastbourne site closely for the next 18 months. I made clear that lessons must be learned after this outrageous failure, and we must be kept informed at every stage." Josh continued, "This incident should never have happened, and I will continue to hold Southern Water to account while keeping residents and environmental groups fully updated as the investigation and clean-up progress."