Kate Kniveton MP has welcomed the largest infrastructure programme in water company history to tackle sewage pollution. The Government’s new Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan will revolutionise how water companies tackle the number of discharges of untreated sewage, which MPs and the public have made clear are completely unacceptable.
The Victorians introduced storm overflows as a safety valve for combined sewage systems. Now, under pressure from climate change and population growth, water companies use them far too often, threatening the environment and sea users.
The Government has been clear that companies cannot profit from environmental damage, and local Member of Parliament, Kate Kniveton MP voted for new measures in the recent Environment Act to give more powers to Ofwat, the water company regulator, to introduce stricter measures against sewage pollution.
Ofwat is now consulting on measures that would ensure that water companies are transparent about how executive pay and dividends align to the delivery of services to customers, including environmental performance.
Commenting, Kate Kniveton MP said:
“I welcome the Government’s new Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan which will mean that water companies will face strict targets and must completely eliminate the harm any sewage discharge causes to the environment.
“Water companies need to step up and deliver the services that the residents of Burton and Uttoxeter rightly expect. I support Ofwat’s proposals to hold water companies to account and link dividend payments to their environmental performance.
“The current use of sewage overflows is completely unacceptable, and I will continue to push our water company to tackle them as soon as possible.”
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
“This is the first Government to take action to end the environmental damage caused by sewage spills. We will require water companies to protect everyone who uses our waters for recreation and ensure storm overflows pose no threat to the environment.
“Water companies will need to invest to stop unacceptable sewage spills so our rivers and coast lines can have greater protection than ever before.”
