A SOUTHEND councillor has called for the Government to nationalise water firms after raw sewage was discharged into the sea and Thames Estuary.

Last week swimmers were warned to avoid Southend's coastal waters by campaign group Surfers Against Sewage.

Heavy rain had led to sewage systems partially emptying into the water. 

No official warning signs were installed on the beaches, with Anglian Water asking the public to “make educated decisions” about whether to go into the sea.

Labour Councillor Matt Dent says water firms need to be nationalised following “years of chronic and systemic under investment in keeping our sewer system up to date and fit for purpose”.

He said: “Anglia Water could have made an ‘educated decision’ to have invested in maintaining our sewer systems, rather than channelling millions of pound into the pockets of its investors.

“Privatisation of the water companies has comprehensively failed. We have seen under investment at the same time as money paid by ordinary people is being diverted into the pockets of private investors and fat cats.

“It’s time that we bring these companies back into public ownership and end this failed experiment of privatisation.”

The water firm has defended the discharges, claiming they were necessary to protect homes and businesses from flooding.

An Anglian Water spokesman said “In parts of our region we saw over a month’s worth of rain fall, in only a few hours, onto ground that is essentially like concrete. As it’s been dry for so long intense rainfall onto hard ground will not soak in, and instead runs straight off.

“Any discharges will have been predominantly rainwater, our BeachAware system notified the Surfers Against Sewage Safer Seas service as a precaution.

“However, we recognise that they are no longer the right solution when sewers become overloaded with rainwater.”

The firms says it is investing more than £200 million to reduce storm spills across the East of England.

The spokesman added: “And as part of our Get River Positive commitment we’ve promised that storm overflows will not be the reason for unhealthy rivers in our region by 2030.”