Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 50
50
Accepted
We recommend that Ministers and the Environment Agency should set challenging improvement targets and timetables...
Recommendation
We recommend that Ministers and the Environment Agency should set challenging improvement targets and timetables for this progressive reduction to inform the drainage and sewage management plans to be drawn up by each water company. The first round of these plans should clearly indicate significant ambition, by setting a stretching timetable for progressive reductions in the use of overflows. (Paragraph 243) Surface drainage and urban pollution
Government response summary AI-generated
The Government states that it has already committed to prioritize water quality in the new environmental land management schemes, citing the Secretary of State's statement in December 2021 and ongoing work with Natural England and the Environment Agency.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
The Government welcomes this recommendation. The Strategic Policy Statement makes clear that the current number of discharges is unacceptable and water companies must significantly reduce the discharge of sewage from storm overflows. The outcomes we expect water companies to meet on storm overflows will be set out in the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan. The ambitious targets being consulted on will eliminate ecological harm from storm overflow discharges and water companies will be expected to bring forward plans to achieve these targets as part of their Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans. Water companies should set out how they will improve the performance of their drainage system, including reducing discharges, through drainage and wastewater management plans as required by the Environment Act 2021.
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