A FREEDOM of Information request shows that the Environment Agency is taking longer to respond to water emergencies in BCP.

Between 2018 and 2023, there were 109 reported water pollution incidents across the conurbation, 24 of which were visited immediately by Environment Agency staff.

This means they were attended within two hours of a report coming in, or within four hours outside of the normal working day – a definition set by the organisation.

One of the 85 incidents that were not dealt with immediately was a category two incident with a ‘significant’ impact.

The 84 other incidents were classed as category three which means it would have had minor or minimal impact on the environment.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "We assess and record every incident report we receive – between 70,000 and 100,000 a year. We respond to every incident and always attend those where there is a significant risk."

A Water UK spokesperson said: “No pollution incident is ever acceptable and this is why water companies have proposed to invest £105 billion – a near doubling of current levels – to upgrade our network. We need Ofwat to approve our plans in full so we can get on with it.”

The Environment Agency also said: "We take our responsibility to protect the environment very seriously and will always pursue and prosecute companies that are deliberately obstructive or misleading.

"While criminal prosecutions can be lengthy processes, since 2015 we have concluded 63 prosecutions against water companies securing fines of over £151 million."

Data from the Environment Agency in April 2024 also showed that the number of hours sewage was released into Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole waterways has more than doubled last year.

Poole Harbour declared a major incident in March 2023 when about 200 barrels of reservoir fluid was released into the water column.

At the time of the incident, an Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We have received reports of a large amount of oil in Poole Harbour and we are supporting the port authority and other partners in responding to this incident.”