Dan Boatright-Greene, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire, has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to prioritise a "fundamental reform" of the sector after Environment Agency data revealed 5,803 hours of sewage spills in West Worcestershire alone last year. These spills resulted from 842 separate incidents in the area, which is crossed by the Avon, Severn, and Teme. "It is an insult to local families that Severn Trent continues to report substantial profits while our rivers are polluted and household water bills keep rising." "This includes a £24 million investment at Worcester Sewage Treatment Works to cut phosphates and boost capacity." Severn Trent said its bills remain the second lowest in England, and its affordability scheme currently supports around 30,000 customers in Worcestershire.