Three sensitive catchments designated for catchment permitting

Environment secretary Steve Reed has designated three of the country’s sensitive catchment areas as catchment permitting areas, under his Water Industry Act 1991 powers: the River Avon, the Solent, and the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast. Sensitive catchments (see map) are designated because their habits are in unfavourable condition due to high levels of phosphorus or nitrogen pollution in the water.

In the three catchment permitting areas, the Environment Agency must review the environmental permits applying to wastewater treatment plants, and impose conditions on the permits which ensure that the overall effect on the catchment is the same or better than it would be if the standard concentration applied to each plant.

The nutrient pollution standards specified for plants serving populations of 2,000 or more in sensitive areas is 10 mg per litre for nitrogen and 0.25 mg per litre for phosphorus, aligning with current Technically Achievable Limits.