MP tables Bill to prevent sewage pollution of rivers

Conservative MP for Ludlow Philip Dunne has tabled a Bill in Parliament targeting river pollution from sewage spills.

The Sewage (Inland Waters) Bill places a duty on water companies to ensure that untreated sewage is not discharged into rivers and other inland waters. The Bill will require water companies to set out plans to reduce their reliance on combined sewer overflows (CSOs).

It proposes increasing levels of transparency, as firms will be mandated to report publicly not just on the frequency and extent of sewage discharges from CSOs and any other sewer catchment assets, but also on the impact on water quality as this is enabled by advances in technology.

The Bill also proposes measures to upgrade drainage infrastructure to separate household sewage from surface water drainage, helping reduce the risk of overspills. It includes measures to reduce harmful products such as non-biodegradable wet wipes, commercial fats and oils from being disposed down the drains. It also proposes measures to expand the number of inland bathing waters and establish targets to increase those classified as “good” or “excellent”.

Commenting, Dunne (pictured) said: “To start with, I applaud the action the Government is taking through the landmark Environment Bill, returning to committee in the Commons very soon. This legislation includes for the first time a requirement for water companies to publish a drainage and sewerage management plan every five years. I have tabled an amendment to this Bill to strengthen these plans explicitly to cover water quality and the impact of pollution from sewage. I hope this will help inform debate around the Government’s very welcome plans to set a target for water companies to reduce discharge of phosphate.

“My Private Member’s Bill, published today, goes further. This contains a suite of measures to address the extensive failings in regulation, enforcement, transparency, investment, and infrastructure which drives the contamination of our rivers with wastewater. We need water companies to be more transparent and encouraged to monitor, report and mitigate wastewater discharges better.

“We also need to make our rivers fit for recreation, particularly given the renewed enthusiasm for ‘wild swimming’ during the Covid pandemic. My Bill calls for each water company to reach bathing quality standard on two inland waters a year. By improving the ecological health of our rivers, we could deliver – in relatively short timescales – huge benefits for wildlife and biodiversity as well.”

Dunne added: “I accept that these improvements won’t be cost-free. So I have proposed that Ofwat’s objectives should allow capital investment in improving water quality to be eligible under the five yearly pricing review mechanism.”