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Environment Bill returns with storm overflow amendments

by Karma Loveday

Defra has confirmed three, new legislative measures it announced last month on storm overflows will be added by government amendment to the Environment Bill later this year.


The bill was included in last week’s Queen’s Speech setting out the Government’s legislative agenda, and will shortly return to Parliament. The new legal duties are:

• government to publish a plan by September 2022 to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows;

• government to report to Parliament on progress on implementing the plan; and

• a duty on water companies to publish data on storm overflow operation on an annual basis.


Environment minister, Rebecca Pow, said: “The concerning issue of untreated sewage in our rivers demands urgent action. The inclusion of these measures in the Environment Bill will ensure steps are taken to tackle unacceptable levels of pollution.


"While we cannot get rid of storm overflows overnight, we are working hard to accelerate progress in this area to protect our precious water environment and wildlife. In addition to new legislation, the recently established Storm Overflows Taskforce has agreed to set a long term goal to eliminate harm from storm overflows and has already taken steps to improve monitoring and transparency, which is crucial.”


The government expects to consult on potential options for ways to eliminate harm from storm overflows to take forward later this year.


The bill with its wider water provisions and the new legal duties on storm overflows are expected to be on the statute book by autumn.

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