The Origins and Evolution of the Southend Water Summits

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The Water Summits began in March 2023, sparked by my deep frustration with the state of our water quality. As a cold water swimmer in Leigh On Sea, I saw first hand the devastating impact of raw sewage discharges and knew that urgent action was needed. I approached my then MP, Anna Firth, to highlight the issue and push for a solution.

With Anna’s support, we were able to bring key stakeholders to the table, including Anglian Water, local authorities, environmental regulators, and campaigners. Having an MP involved added credibility and ensured that water companies took the discussions seriously. This support helped us achieve real commitments, but from the very beginning, Anna made it clear that the Water Summits should eventually be led by the community. Once local residents had the tools and knowledge to take ownership, the initiative would transition into a community led model.

Since then, I have helped organise five Water Summits, each driving significant progress. Together, we have achieved:
✅ A commitment from Anglian Water to reduce sewage spills by 75%—five years ahead of the government deadline (2030 instead of 2035).
✅ The introduction of out of season bathing water testing, which could become a national initiative.
✅ A £104 million investment pledged by Anglian Water to improve infrastructure in Southend alone.

Political Shifts & Resistance to Community Leadership

When David Burton-Sampson was elected as the new MP for Southend West and Leigh, I met with him to ask if he would continue to be involved in the Water Summits and support their transition to a community led model, in line with Anna Firth’s original vision.

This was a crucial moment, as the next summit organised by David, was being branded as “the first Water Summit”, with political media correspondents invited—but no environmental journalists included. It quickly became clear that the direction of the Water Summits was at risk of shifting away from community leadership.

During that most recent Water Summit on 1st November 2024, it was agreed that Waterwatch UK’s proposal documents outlining the transition to a committee led structure would be shared with the group for discussion. This agreement was minuted. However, shortly after, I received an email from Bayo Alaba, MP for Southend East and Rochford, stating:

“David and I have considered your proposal and have also received views from others involved in the Water Summits and, with all things in balance, we have decided that we will not be transitioning the Water Quality Summit.”

This decision blindsided many involved, as there had been overwhelming support for the transition. To ensure transparency, I conducted a survey among summit participants, and the response was resoundingly in favour of moving to a community led committee.

However, when the agenda for the sixth Water Summit on Friday 7th February 2025 was sent out, the proposal was conspicuously absent. I was also excluded from the organising process, despite having played a role in every previous summit. Multiple attendees have raised concerns, demanding to know why this critical discussion had been omitted.

Expanding Water Summits Nationwide

The demand for community led Water Summits is not just in Southend. Following meetings with communities in North Norfolk and Sussex, we now have support in other regions where local residents want to establish their own committees to organise regional Water Summits.

These communities want to work with Waterwatch UK for the framework, structure, and guidance on how to successfully set up and run their own summits. This proves that the model we are pushing for is not only viable but also in demand elsewhere. A national network of Water Summits, each run by local communities but supported with expertise and resources from Waterwatch UK, will hold polluters to account more effectively than ever before.

MPs Voting Against Water Quality Improvements

While progress has been made, we must hold our MPs accountable. Recently, both of Southend’s MPs voted against Amendment 16 to the Water Special Measures Bill—a move that blocks fines from water companies from being reinvested into improving water quality.

Why would they vote for this? Was it simply because it was a Conservative led initiative? If so, this level of party loyalty at the expense of local communities is deeply concerning. Water quality improvements should be above party politics—yet we are left to suffer because MPs chose to toe the party line rather than act in the best interest of their constituents.

Working with the Environment Agency

Waterwatch UK is working alongside the Environment Agency, which has welcomed an independent, community led approach to tackling water quality issues. They recognise that an engaged public is vital in ensuring polluters are held accountable, and they support transparent, data driven solutions.

Together, we are developing:
✅ Educational materials to help the public understand water quality issues in a clear, factual way.
✅ Accessible data formats so people can see and interpret local water pollution data.
✅ A balanced narrative that moves beyond blame and outrage to practical solutions that actually improve water quality.

Transparency & Financial Accountability

Waterwatch UK operates with full transparency. To ensure that all funding is managed responsibly, we have both an independent auditor and an accountant who will hold us to account financially.

✅ Every penny received and spent will be accounted for.
✅ All financial records will be open and accessible to maintain trust with the community.
✅ There will be no hidden deals or influence from any funding partners, including Anglian Water.

While Anglian Water has provided match funding for the practical costs of running Water Summits—such as room hire, printing, and refreshments—we are actively expanding our funding sources to ensure even greater independence. This includes securing support from local businesses and other funding streams so that reliance on Anglian Water’s funding is significantly reduced over time.

Waterwatch UK will always remain independent, with decisions driven by the community, not funders.

In Bayo’s email, he also stated:

“It’s also vital that the summit remains impartial for its integrity and public confidence. The current association of your CiC with Anglian Water unfortunately creates the perception of a conflict of interest. There are some concerns also that the company is set up with you as the sole shareholder and director.”

Let’s be absolutely clear—there is no conflict of interest. Anglian Water has no association with Waterwatch UK beyond providing funding to cover practical costs for future summits. They have no say in the organisation, decision making, or governance of Waterwatch UK.

The Role of MPs & Public Scrutiny

MPs are crucial to the Water Summits—not just as attendees, but as key advisory members of the committee. Their participation ensures that policy changes can be driven forward, and that the voices of their constituents are reflected at a national level. However, their involvement must not be a one way street—they, too, need to be held accountable for their actions and decisions.

We as a community must apply the same level of scrutiny to MPs as we do to other key stakeholders, including water companies, regulators, and local authorities. They must be transparent in their commitments, their votes in Parliament, and their stance on water quality issues. Political decisions directly impact the progress of these summits, and we cannot afford to let MPs attend for optics without meaningful action.

Clarifying Opposition to the Community Led Transition

One campaign group has opposed the transition to a community led model, citing concerns over Waterwatch UK receiving match funding from Anglian Water. To be clear, this funding is strictly used for practical necessities—such as room hire, printing agendas, and refreshments—to ensure Water Summits can continue independently.

🔹 Anglian Water has no control over Waterwatch UK’s decisions, governance, or agenda.
🔹 The Water Summits will be managed by an independent, democratically elected committee.
🔹 Waterwatch UK exists to hold all polluters accountable, including Anglian Water, local authorities, regulators, and MPs.

The suggestion that receiving operational funding compromises Waterwatch UK’s integrity is misleading. The true conflict of interest would be allowing polluters or politicians to shape the discussion without scrutiny. We remain committed to an unbiased, fact driven approach—one that challenges all responsible parties equally

My Credentials

I have experience driving transformative change across the private and voluntary sectors. I lead operations and guide a customer success team at my current full time role , while also serving as Founder & CEO of Waterwatch UK on a voluntary basis, a community-led initiative committed to improving water quality nationwide.

Beyond Waterwatch UK, I am a cold water swimmer with over 3,500 members in our local group and serve as Rear Commodore at Leigh Sailing Club, which has several hundred members. My experience in grassroots activism, community organising, and governance enables me to lead this movement effectively and push for lasting change.

Expanding Public Education Through Video Content

In addition to the Water Summits and community engagement, I want to create educational videos to help people better understand the complexities of water pollution, sewage spills, and accountability. These videos will break down key issues, such as how sewage overflows happen, who is responsible, and what solutions exist.

A key focus will be public education on wet wipes, fats, oils, and greases (FOG)—all of which contribute significantly to blockages and sewage spills. Many people don’t realise that flushing wet wipes or pouring cooking fats down the sink leads to sewer blockages, causing overflows that pollute our rivers and seas. Through short, accessible videos, we can raise awareness about what should and shouldn’t go down our drains, helping to prevent unnecessary pollution at its source.

By making this information clear and easy to understand, we can empower more people to take informed action. Waterwatch UK will use social media, YouTube, and other platforms to share these resources widely, ensuring that everyone—from swimmers to business owners to local policymakers—has the knowledge they need to make small changes that lead to big improvements in water quality.

What’s Next? How You Can Take Action

💡 Here’s how you can help:

📌 Hold your MPs accountable – Ask them why they voted against Amendment 16 and why they are not supporting a community led approach. Email them, challenge them publicly, and demand transparency.

📌 Support the community led model – If you want Water Summits to remain independent, speak up. Public pressure matters.

📌 Get involved – If you’re in North Norfolk, Sussex, or anywhere else that wants to set up a local Water Summit, reach out to Waterwatch UK.

📌 Join the conversation – Whether you’re a swimmer, sailor, paddler, business owner, or resident, your voice is needed. Follow us on socials for updates, attend meetings, and help shape the future of water quality discussions.

📩 Contact us at: info@waterwatchuk.org

The Fight for Cleaner Water Continues

Waterwatch UK exists to challenge, innovate, and drive real solutions—not just for Southend, but across the UK.

The fight for cleaner water continues, and we will not be sidelined.