Under a bold new plan, the government has pledged to halve sewage pollution by 2030 – the most ambitious target ever set for England’s waterways.
The strategy focuses on storm overflows, which were responsible for more than 3.6 million hours of pollution in 2023.
Under the new crackdown, water companies will be forced to cut the number of sewage spills into rivers, lakes and seas by 50% within the next five years.
It comes alongside a record £104 billion infrastructure investment – the biggest upgrade in water company history – with a hard line on holding polluters to account.
Customer bills will now be ringfenced to ensure every penny allocated to fixing the system actually gets spent, not diverted to executive pay or dividends.
Wet wipes containing plastic will be banned to prevent sewer blockages and filthy backups. Every new housing development will be legally required to use sustainable drainage systems to avoid overloading local sewers.
And in a major change of approach, the government will also ramp up the use of nature-based solutions like artificial wetlands to clean wastewater before it reaches rivers and coasts.
A major step change in enforcement is also under way. The Environment Agency has been handed £189 million – the largest budget for water regulation in history – and will deploy hundreds of officers to inspect, investigate and prosecute where necessary.
Over £100 million raised through water company fines is being reinvested in clean-up projects in the worst-hit communities.
All storm overflows are now monitored and data on discharges is published in near real-time. This will enable the new Water Commissioner – a post being created to oversee the sector – to act decisively against serial offenders and ensure better outcomes for the public and the environment.
The government said the target to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030 is stretching but achievable and represents a new deal for the public: cleaner water, tougher enforcement and a proper grip on an industry that has lost public trust.
Sewage spills to be halved in five years appeared first on Energy Live News.