Recommendation 49

HM Government · verbatim extract Accepted

We are the first Government to place a duty requiring water companies to secure a progressive reduction in the adverse impacts of discharges from storm overflows, through the landmark Environment Act 2021. We have made clear to water companies that they must improve their environmental performance. Between 2020 and 2025, water companies will invest £7.1 billion in environmental improvements in England. Of this, £3.1 billion will be invested in storm overflow improvements specifically. Through the next Price Review (PR24), we are using the strategic policy statement to Ofwat, the economic regulator, to make it clear that the environment is a top priority. Our Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan Consultation will revolutionise how water companies will tackle the number of discharges of untreated sewage, which the Government and the public have made clear are completely unacceptable. Water companies will face strict limits on when they can use storm overflows and must completely eliminate the harm any sewage discharge causes to the environment under our plans. Under the proposed plan: • By 2035, the environmental impacts of 75% of overflows affecting our most important protected sites will have been eliminated; • By 2035, there will be 70% fewer discharges into bathing waters; • By 2040, approximately 160,000 discharges, on average, will have been eliminated; and by 2050, approximately 320,000 discharges, on average, will have been eliminated. Water companies will be encouraged to accelerate these timelines wherever possible while balancing the impact on consumers. The Government expects costs on water companies to deliver this programme will reduce through innovation, better asset management and maintenance, and identifying more effective local solutions. We will monitor the delivery programme, and the Government will not hesitate to set faster delivery timelines for targets if delivery costs reduce. The consultation also outlines how water companies are expected to achieve these targets, including mapping their sewer networks, reducing surface water connections and engaging in long-term collaborative planning.