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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the quality of water in rivers in West Dorset constituency.

Since 2021 Water Companies have invested in 65 schemes in the West Dorset constituency which includes 6 improvement schemes for water quality and 39 monitoring programmes, with 63 of these due for completion by 31 May 2025. All storm overflows in the West Dorset constituency are now fitted with Event Duration Monitors.

The Environment Agency (EA) has also been working with partners in West Dorset on projects such as the Flagship Upper Frome Chalk Stream project and a Natural Flood Management project in the upper River Yeo/River Wriggle, which will deliver a range of environmental improvements to reduce diffuse pollution from land management practices and improve water quality. The EA also has specialist Agriculture Teams that are focused on agricultural regulatory compliance in the Chesil, Fleet and Poole Harbour catchments.