More than 100 sewage leaks discovered in government buildings in past year | Civil service

Trade unions have called for a safer working environment for civil servants after it emerged that legionella, insect infestations and more than 100 sewage leaks were discovered in government buildings in the past year.

There have been 138 sewage leaks in the past 12 months in Whitehall and Ministry of Defence sites across England.

The MoD recorded 102 sewage leaks from May 2022 to May 2023, according to parliamentary questions tabled by the Liberal Democrats.

In Whitehall, sewage was reported to have leaked at the Cabinet Office, the Department for Education, the Department for Transport and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Last month an insect infestation led to four floors of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in 1 Victoria Street, London, being closed for deep cleaning.

In the HMRC office in Liverpool, legionella was reportedly discovered in the water, the Times reported.

The newspaper said guidance had been followed by capping off pipework, flushing the system and retesting. However, the building was not closed and vulnerable members of staff were told to work from home.

An HMRC spokesperson said the safety of staff was “of paramount importance” and that when the issue was discovered, immediate treatment and measures were put in place.

Last week, 39 people were removed from the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset after traces of legionella bacteria were found in the onboard water system.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union, which represents civil servants, said: “The state of government buildings is a disgrace, outdone only by the way the government treats the people who work inside them.

“The situation in Liverpool is indefensible. The government has finally accepted the danger to people on the Bibby Stockholm from legionella, yet refuses to act to protect its own staff.

“Legionella is a dangerous disease, especially for those who are disabled or vulnerable, and any decent employer would do all they can to keep their workforce safe.”

Amy Leversidge, assistant general secretary for the FDA civil servants’ union, said: “Nobody should have to work in these conditions.”

Leversidge added: “The Government Property Agency must take responsibility and control of this, clear the maintenance backlog, and guarantee the very basic right of a safe working environment for all civil servants.”

A government spokesperson said: “We manage a large, complex property estate which has over 140,000 buildings, many of which are of historical importance.

“As is always the case with managing any large property portfolio, issues do arise with maintenance.

“That’s why we have invested £56m in improving and maintaining buildings, including fitting new and greener boilers and windows, and making health and safety improvements.”