The UK’s environment watchdog found that the government and regulators have violated the law by being too lenient on water companies that discharge sewage.
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) stated that sewage releases should only occur in exceptional circumstances, like during heavy rainfall, but this has not always been the case.
The OEP mentioned that regulator Ofwat has taken steps to change its approach to enforcing the law. The government and the Environment Agency are reviewing the allegations, and failure to address them could lead to legal action.
Campaigners welcomed the findings but described it as a “bittersweet moment.” Public outrage has grown due to the significant increase in sewage spills observed in 2023.
Charles Watson, chair and founder of River Action, criticized the failure of environmental regulation in the country and called it scandalous.
While sewage releases might be necessary during rainy weather to prevent wastewater build-up and avoid sewage entering homes, excessive releases have been a concern.
Untreated sewage contains harmful chemicals that can endanger aquatic life and lead to oxygen depletion for local wildlife.
Nick Measham, CEO at WildFish, expressed relief at the findings, stating that it would help in stopping sewage from entering rivers but also highlighted frustration with the government and regulators not fulfilling their responsibilities.
The OEP was established under the 2021 Environment Act to hold the government and public bodies in England and Northern Ireland accountable. It acknowledged that Ofwat had made changes to comply with the law, including imposing record fines on three water companies.
The government and the Environment Agency are assessing the allegations, and Defra has emphasized the need to reduce sewage discharge into water bodies.
Defra also announced an increase in compensation for customers facing water service failures, with automatic payments for various issues like water outages and pollution. The decision follows a public consultation conducted in August.
Acceptance of the OEP findings could result in amendments to environmental permits and necessitate water companies to invest in infrastructure upgrades to comply with regulations.
WaterUK hopes for regulatory approval on Thursday to proceed with plans to eliminate sewage discharge into rivers. Disputes over the OEP’s findings could lead to legal action, including judicial review.