Environment secretary demands better maintenance and regulatory oversight of storm overflows

Environment secretary Steve Barclay told water companies “to go further and faster in two areas to secure a measurable reduction in sewage spills in the next 12 months”.

In a letter to chief executives, he called for improvemnet in maintenance programmes and greater compay funding of interim solutions.

Better maintenance programmes, so that by 1 December 2024, frequently spilling overflows that discharge for operational reasons are addressed. Factors such as blockages accounted for c20% of frequent spilling overflows last year. Firms must outline the reductions they will achieve through this enhanced maintenance. Barclay pointed out: “This is a core legal requirement that you should already be delivering. With the regulators, I will be closely following the development and implementation of these overdue plans.”

More company-funded interim solutions, until long term solutions come through to meet the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan targets. He praised some firms for taking interim action already on priority sites. He said: “I would like to remind you of the civic duty that you hold on water. Profit must not come at the cost of pollution, and the public rightly expect that this issue is addressed with maximum speed and ambition. Regulators will take enforcement action where companies breach their legal obligations relating to storm overflows.”

Barclay asked for plans by tomorrow (19 December) ahead of a roundtable discussion.

In a separate letter, the secretary of state told the chair and chief executive of the Environment Agency: “I expect significant improvements in the regulatory oversight of water companies.”

He explained: “The Government has provided the Environment Agency with stronger legal powers in relation to water companies and wider sectors which may pollute our environment. We have lifted the cap on variable monetary penalties (VMPs) so that these are unlimited, and expanded the scope of offences to which these penalties apply. As you know, these powers are now in force.

“These new tools will be available to your enforcement teams and we expect the Environment Agency to deliver penalties, in line with your Enforcement and Sanctions Policy, that are tough whilst proportionate to the nature of the offence. I look forward to seeing your use of these new powers to ensure that polluters are held to account and are appropriately deterred from breaking our environmental laws."