Langstone Harbour: Sewage

(asked on 22nd October 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what limit on the effect of sewage waste released into Langstone Harbor Southern Water has communicated to his Department.


Answered by
Rebecca Pow Portrait
Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This question was answered on 6th November 2020

Southern Water operates several assets with Environmental Permits authorising the discharge of dilute storm sewage into Langstone Harbour or to the Solent during times of heavy and persistent rainfall. These discharges take place via storm overflows.

Storm sewage discharges are necessary because England has a 'combined' sewerage system in many urban centres which convey both rainwater and wastewater from toilets, bathrooms and kitchens within the same pipes to a sewage treatment works. During heavy rainfall the capacity of these pipes can be exceeded many times over. Storm overflows act as relief valves which prevent the system from overloading which would otherwise result in sewage backing up and flooding people's homes, workplaces and neighbourhoods.

Where the Environment Agency (EA) suspects or has evidence that Environmental Permit conditions have been breached, or that a polluting un-permitted discharge has occurred, the EA investigates further, taking enforcement action where appropriate in accordance with its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy.

I recognise that there is more to do with regards to the management of sewage pollution. I met water company CEOs in September and made clear that the volumes of sewage discharged into rivers and other waterways in extreme weather must be reduced. To achieve this, I have set up a new Taskforce bringing together Government, the water industry, regulators and environmental NGOs. This Taskforce will set out clear proposals to address the volumes of sewage discharged into our rivers. The Taskforce is also exploring further short-term actions water companies can take to accelerate progress on storm overflows.

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