The meeting was held in response to a series of issues that are affecting communities across the region. 

In Worthing, work needs to be done to ensure sewer misconnections and uncertified discharges into the sea don’t degrade water quality or threaten marine ecosystems. Seawater in Adur faces similar threats, along with concerns about how the sewage infrastructure is coping with new developments in the area. 

Whilst local authorities don’t have the power to directly regulate Southern Water, by working together, the councils hope they can apply enough pressure to force the company to address its growing list of local failings. 

The meeting follows previous action by both Adur and Worthing to demand the water company prevent pollution damaging the shoreline. 

Worthing has applied for the stretch of sea off Beach House to be designated by the government as bathing water, and intends to do the same in the west of the town. If the requests are agreed, the Environment Agency would regularly test the seawater quality, putting extra pressure on Southern Water to prevent pollution leaks. 

Adur is demanding the water company invest in its infrastructure to prevent sewage discharges into the sea. The growth of new developments, in particular around Shoreham, is putting extra pressure on a local sewage system that is struggling to cope with demand.  

Cllr Vicki Wells, Worthing’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: "It has never been more important to ensure the quality of our coastal water, and to hold Southern Water to account for its role in uncertified releases of sewage off our foreshore. 

Cllr Steve Neocleous, Adur’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategic Planning, said: “Southern Water must not only hear us but must act on our concerns.