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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure water companies prioritise investment in upgrading sewage treatment infrastructure in areas with high ecological sensitivity.

Ofwat published their final determinations for Price Review 2024 (PR24) on 19 December, which included a confirmed £104 billion of water company expenditure between 2025 and 2030 to deliver substantial, lasting, improvements for customers and the environment.

During this period, around £12 billion will be invested in improving almost 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales. This investment will be prioritised at storm overflows affecting the most sensitive sites for ecological and human health in line with the targets in the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan. The Plan requires that by 2050, water companies will only discharge from storm overflows where they can demonstrate that there is no adverse local ecological impact.

Nutrient pollution from wastewater is another key pressure affecting the condition of our protected sites. This is why in areas where protected sites are particularly affected by nutrient pollution, over 140 wastewater treatment works must be upgraded by water companies to meet stringent nutrient removal levels in PR24.