Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Conclusion 51
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Published 13 Jan 2022
Paragraph 262
Environmental Audit Committee Water Quality in Rivers All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Fats, oils and greases and cleaning and hygiene products containing plastic are causing huge problems for drainage systems when they are poured away in sinks or flushed down the toilet. The disposal of FOG by takeaways and other food service establishments is currently unregulated. Grease management solutions exist, but awareness appears to be low. The food service industry needs clear guidance and standards to be established, failing which firmer regulation is likely to be 126 Water quality in rivers required, to ensure it begins to take responsibility for addressing an issue which is costly for water company customers and detrimental to sewerage systems and the environment. There could be potential circular economy benefits for businesses that can utilise these harmful waste products as biofuels.
From: Environmental Audit Committee, Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers (HC 74), paragraph 262, 13 January 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 16 May 2022 (deadline 13 March 2022).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the report and says it agrees there is "more to do", accepting many recommendations, declining some, and deferring others to consultations, reviews and future plans.
- On sewage monitoring, it "does not accept" the recommendation to install volume monitors at all overflow points, saying volume measurement is "limited by technical feasibility and cost" and "requires further consideration".
- It "does not agree" that planning authorities should adopt a broad policy against farming infrastructure, and "does not agree" that permitting is "normally an appropriate risk management response" for highway drains.
- On highways outfalls, National Highways "agrees to set out its plans" by the end of the 2022/23 financial year for how high-risk locations could be mitigated by 2030, but says it is "not possible to make a commitment" on funding at this time.
- On sentencing for water pollution offences, the independent Sentencing Council "will consider the recommendation in due course", and any changes to guidelines would be "subject to public consultation".