Measures to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows will be put into law, the government confirmed today.
Details of the legislative path are yet to be confirmed but Defra said three duties will be created:
• a duty on government to publish a plan by September 2022 to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows;
• a duty on government to report to Parliament on progress on implementing the plan; and
• aduty on water companies to publish data on storm overflow operation on an annual basis.
The government added it will consult on potential options for ways to eliminate harm from storm overflows to take forward later this year. It has worked with MP for Ludlow and chair of the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), Philip Dunne, on tackling sewage in rivers following the introduction of his Private Member’s Bill in 2020. And with the multi-party Storm Overflows Taskforce, set up in September 2020, under which water companies have already committed to increase the number of overflows they will improve over the next five years. A further 800 overflows will be investigated and nearly 800 improved between 2020 and 2025.
Dunne said: “I introduced my Private Members Bill to help tackle the scourge of sewage discharges polluting our waterways. Due to the impact of the pandemic on the Parliamentary timetable, I have been working to encourage the Government to adopt the key principles of my Bill.
“I am delighted that the environment minister [Rebecca Pow] has honoured her pledge to seek a legislative route to give effect to the main objectives… We shall work in the next session to find the best route to turn this into statute.”
He added: “The EAC is also holding an inquiry at present into measures to improve the water quality of our rivers, so I am also looking forward to the recommendations which emerge being able to inform the next stage of the Government’s work to improve water quality.”
Water UK chief executive, Christine McGourty, said: “Water companies are absolutely committed to playing their part in reducing any harm from storm overflows, and that’s why they’re investing £1.1bn over the next five years on this, as part of a wider £5bn programme of environmental improvements. We’re playing a leading role in the overflows taskforce that’s been set up to accelerate progress, and we strongly support the close collaboration that’s needed across multiple sectors to bring about the long-term change in the health of our rivers that everyone wants to see.”
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