The Government is today launching its consultation on the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, which proposes big changes in how water companies will tackle the number of discharges of untreated sewage.
Water companies will face strict limits on when they can use storm overflows and must completely eliminate the ecological harm any storm sewage discharges cause to the environment and significantly reduce discharges to protect public health under new plans unveiled by the Government today.
The consultation on the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan outlines a step change in how water companies tackle the number of discharges of untreated sewage, which the Government and the public have made clear are completely unacceptable.
A growing population, Victorian infrastructure and an increase in extreme weather events has increased pressure on our sewer system, bringing the frequency of discharges to an unacceptable level.
Under the proposed plan:
By 2035, the environmental impacts of 3,000 storm overflows (75%) affecting our most important protected sites will have been eliminated;
By 2035, there will be 70% fewer discharges into bathing waters –(using last years figures that would have equated to 4,620 fewer discharges into our bathing waters during the bathing season;)
By 2040, approximately 160,000 discharges, on average, will have been eliminated (40% of the total); and by 2050, approximately 320,000 discharges, on average, will have been eliminated (80% of the total).
The consultation outlines how water companies are expected to achieve these targets, including mapping their sewer networks, reducing surface water connections and engaging in long-term collaborative planning.
It also details how government will hold to account those companies who do not meet expectations, including a new monitoring and reporting framework as legislated for in the Environment Act which will significantly improve the ability of both Ofwat and the Environment Agency to take enforcement action where needed.
Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay said:
“I have long campaigned for water companies to clean up their act, including in my recent role as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Ocean Conservation for 6 years.”
“The consultation announced today by the Government is a huge step in the right direction – in fact we are the first Government to set out our expectations that water companies must take steps to significantly reduce storm overflows, which are a major contributor to sewage getting into our waters.”
“The measures being consulted on today are also crucially realistic and achievable. At a time when the costs of living increases are a worry to us all, they do not also have unintended consequences of putting an unfair burden on the rate payer.”
“I encourage everyone to carefully read and reply to the consultation, which the Government will then respond to when it publishes its final plan in September.”
The main measures under consultation are:
- Time-bound targets for water companies to achieve the complete elimination of ecological harm from storm overflows, further protect public health and limit storm overflow use;
- Details of how water companies will be expected to achieve these targets;
- An outline of wider options to reduce the strain on our sewer system, such as mandatory sustainable drainage systems; and
- Commitments to revise guidance on applying for a new bathing water designation, and to publish responses to a call for evidence on options to eliminate the use of wet wipes and ensure they are biodegradable where needed.
You can read and respond to the consultation via the below link:
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water-industry/storm-overflows-discharge-reduction-plan/