Residents ‘Disgusted’ After Sewage Spill Leaves Debris In Stream For Days

Residents in Crawley Down say they were left “shocked” and “disgusted” after used toilet paper remained at the scene of a sewage spill for nearly two weeks.

The incident, caused by an electrical fault at a pumping station on 13 March, led to waste entering a stream which feeds into the River Medway.

People living in Hazel Way claim debris, including used toilet tissue, was still visible more than 10 days after the spill, raising concerns about public health and environmental impact.

Sue Kipps, who lives nearby, said she was stunned by what she saw.

She explained that tissue and other waste could be seen hanging from a pipe leading into the stream, adding it was unacceptable that the area had not been fully cleared even a week after the incident.

Long-time resident Glenn Holland said sewage issues in the area have been ongoing, suggesting the pumping station may no longer be fit for purpose.

He also called for better communication from Southern Water to keep residents informed.

Another local resident, Liz Williams, described the situation as “vile”, highlighting concerns about families and pets coming into contact with the contaminated area.

She said the presence of raw sewage so close to where children and dogs regularly pass was deeply worrying.

Residents have also raised concerns about increasing pressure on local infrastructure due to new housing developments, fearing further incidents could occur.

In correspondence seen by the BBC, West Sussex County Council said this was the second sewage-related incident in just over a year.

It also noted that it had not been directly informed of either event by Southern Water.

A spokesperson for Southern Water apologised for the concern caused, stating that the issue had been resolved on the same day it occurred.

They added that two clean-up operations had since been carried out and that work is ongoing to improve the site and reduce the likelihood of similar problems in future.