Following a discussion about the River Chelmer and Blackwater Estuary, Anglian Water agreed to help educate Plume Academy students about how sewage is recycled into clean water.

At last Friday's public meeting, Year 11 student Hattie Phillips asked Dr Robin Price, Director of Quality and Environment at Anglian Water, to allow students to get involved with the discussion.

Miss Phillips said while she was privileged to have the chance to speak to Dr Price directly, "not every young person has the opportunity to hear this level of transparency".

Dr Robin Price said: "It's really important that children and young people learn about the importance of water.

"We have a number of education centres in the region, including one in Chelmsford, where we educate young people about water treatment."

Singer Feargal Sharkey OBE, Plume Academy student Hattie Phillips, and Dr Robin Price from Anglian Water. (Photo: Ben Shahrabi)

Carl Wakefield, Executive Principal at Plume Academy, was also in attendance, and was on-hand to make arrangements with Dr Price.

Mr Wakefield told Nub News: "Firstly, it's with immense pride that I listened to yet another powerful, passionate, and fact-based speech from our own student, who speaks well beyond her years.

"At the end of the meeting, Hattie asked Anglian Water to come in and speak to students about what it does.

"Come the autumn, Anglian Water will be delivering that to our students."

"It's with immense pride that I listened to yet another powerful, passionate, and fact-based speech from our own student, who speaks well beyond her years." Carl Wakefield, Executive Principal at Plume Academy

'A Good Heart' singer-turned-environmentalist Feargal Sharkey and local MP John Whittingdale were also on the panel.

Mr Sharkey described the pipes supplying Anglian Water's sewage works as 'badly maintained' and 'illegal'.

The former Undertones frontman feels water companies should "get to the nub of the problem".

He said: "We must get this done as quickly and efficiently as possible, but we can't without truth and reconciliation."

During the meeting, Dr Price admitted Anglian Water has 'a lot more work to do', after the Environment Agency published a report saying the company required 'significant improvement'.

It was revealed the sewer storm overflow at Penny's Brook, Maldon, spilled 72 times for a total of 1,179 hours, discharging into the River Blackwater, last year.

Dr Robin Price, from Anglian Water, described the spillages as 'unacceptable' and said the organisation 'welcomed' scrutiny.

He also said Anglian Water was currently an 'impenetrable organisation', which wants to be 'much more transparent'.

It is hoped that by working with Plume Academy to help students learn about Anglian Water's sewage recycling process, more young people will have the opportunity to engage with the subject.