Water change will not come quick, minister warns

Environment Secretary Steve Reed has admitted there is "no magic wand" to solving water quality issues in Deal during a visit to the Kent town.

Reed warned that change "won't come quick", but that investment was planned to modernise its sewage and water systems.

The visit comes as Dover and Deal MP Mike Tapp continues to campaign for more regular water testing to battle the issue.

Southern Water said the firm was "working tirelessly" to improve water quality in the area.

When challenged on if he would swim in the sea at Deal, Reed said he would "need to think again", adding: "Change won't come quick, and I appreciate people want to feel change, but it is coming and we have over £100bn of investment coming in to modernise our sewage and water systems."

Deal residents and businesses have expressed concerns about how poor water quality had affected them.

A sea swimmer said their GP warned that regular ear infections and stomach bugs had been caused by the water quality.

Mr Tapp said: "I've been speaking to Southern Water almost daily in the past two weeks, and like all of us were keen to get this right.

"The poor rating is a real concern for restaurants and hotels, and it's those we've got to get this sorted for."

Water quality in Deal was ranked as "poor" by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 2024, having been ranked "excellent" in 2019.

Nick Mills, director on environment and innovation at Southern Water, said the water quality drop was "very disappointing".

"We are working in collaboration with the Environment Agency and the local authority to look at all sources which could be reducing the bathing water quality in the area," he said.

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