CCW: deal with “unacceptable” rise in sewer floods in climate change push

CCW has told water companies to go further and faster on responding to climate change, particularly as regards sewer flooding.

The watchdog’s annual Water Water Everywhere? report for 2019-20 found there had been some positive progress – for instance, leakage down 7% to its lowest level, a slight reduction in per capita consumption and a shorter average length of time customers were cut off supply (11 minutes 45 seconds). But it argued that “efforts must be accelerated to meet the immediate and long-term pressures on our water networks” in light of climate change.

Senior policy manager, Karen Gibbs, commented: “That will require water companies stepping up investment and using innovation to identify the weak points within their networks and put in place appropriate measures to prepare for more extreme weather events. Speeding up these efforts could prevent consumers suffering devastating disruptions to services such as sewer flooding, which occurred more than 30,000 times last year.”

In fact, sewer flooding was a particular concern. CCW reported that last year, incidents of internal and external sewer flooding increased by 14% and 15% respectively, with most wastewater companies reporting an increase, hindered by major storms and flooding. It commented: “Customers contacting CCW to seek help with sewer flooding complaints have reported that the experience left them unable to access basic facilities for several hours, with added time taken to disinfect and clean up the damage caused. The growth in the number of customers facing this in 2019-20 is unacceptable.”

• CCW also last week published its Annual review for England and Wales, setting out what it achieved against its strategic priorities for consumers during 2019-20.