Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 35
35
Paragraph: 191
We note that the Environment Agency does not consider any use of storm overflows to...
Recommendation
We note that the Environment Agency does not consider any use of storm overflows to be a pollution incident: discharges from overflows are classed as permitted discharges as long as they comply with the terms of the relevant permit. This is unlikely to incentivise overall reductions in discharges. We recommend that the 124 Water quality in rivers Environment Agency reclassify significant sewage spills from storm overflows into watercourses in dry weather as pollution incidents, irrespective of permit compliance.
Paragraph Reference:
191
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 16 May 2022. Response attribution to this recommendation has not been verified. Read the response document ↗