From River was the outlet for storm flooding, where raw sewage spilled onto the riverbank during storms, as seen in a video from last June.
The government is committed to ensuring the system is not abused by water companies, and in a strategic policy statement issued to Congress in February, water regulator Ofwat sets out our spending expectations over the next five years. cycle and many more. Ofwat and the water company state that measures to protect the environment must be a priority, ensure a resilient and sustainable water supply and significantly reduce the frequency and extent of flooding. We recently discussed stormwater runoff reduction plans that will fundamentally change the way water companies manage the amount of untreated wastewater. According to the government news agency, the plan proposes the most important infrastructure program for environmental restoration in the water company's history. Water companies face strict restrictions on the use of storm surges and must completely eliminate the environmental impact of wastewater discharges. Water Minister Steve Double said:
We are the first government to address sewage overflows. I explained that water companies cannot rely on overflow and their priority should be to significantly reduce the amount of sewage discharged. This adds to the wide range of actions we have already taken, including advice on improving water quality, and will be a powerful tool to deliver clean water and urge all water companies to go further and faster to to combat overcrowding.
Work is continuing to address the sewer overflow, with plans to be announced by the September 1 legal deadline. The Environment Agency has also significantly strengthened monitoring and:
The number of overflows monitored online has increased from 800 in 2016 to more than 12,000 in 2020. All 15,000 overflows will be resolved by the end of 2023. The company asked more than 2,000 wastewater treatment plants to install new flow monitors to see what's happening in the wastewater treatment process. This led to a full-scale investigation, which was announced in November 2021, and the EA requested further information from all wastewater treatment plants. Includes Defra, Environment Agency, Ofwat, Water Consumer Council, UK Water and Water Plan.
The AA will monitor the current situation and assist local authorities as necessary.
Read more: https://frome.nub.news/news/local-news/government-commits-to-action-against-sewage-discharges-from-storm-overflows-like-those-seen-in-frome-146915
