Unlimited fines for polluters, a ban on plastics in wet wipes and a clampdown on toxic chemicals used in non-stick pans in plan to tackle UK’s water pollution crisis as it is revealed sewage was dumped on beaches 1,500 times last year
- Measures due to be unveiled by Environment Secretary Therese Coffey today
- Increasing levels of criticism over the state of the UK’s rivers and beaches
Companies will face unlimited corporate fines for illegally dumping raw sewage into rivers under plans designed to tackle the UK’s water quality crisis.
Proposals to ban plastics in wet wipes and reduce the use of toxic chemicals used in non-stick cooking pans are also among measures due to be unveiled by Environment Secretary Therese Coffey today.
It comes amid increasing levels of criticism aimed at the Government over the state of the UK’s rivers and beaches.
Last night it was revealed water firms dumped sewage on England’s cleanest beaches more than 1,500 times last year.
Ms Coffey, who will make a speech on the subject this morning, said: ‘Our rare chalk streams and world-famous coastlines, lakes and rivers are hugely important to local communities and to nature.
‘I completely understand the concerns that people have about the health and resilience of our waters, which is why I am setting out this plan for a truly national effort to protect and improve them.
Last night it was revealed water firms dumped sewage on England’s cleanest beaches more than 1,500 times last year.
Ms Coffey, who will make a speech on the subject this morning, said: ‘Our rare chalk streams and world-famous coastlines, lakes and rivers are hugely important to local communities and to nature.’
Bays in England with a Blue Flag mark – an international award recognising the finest stretches of coastline – were soiled for nearly 8,500 hours in total. Pictured: protester against sewage in Newquay, Cornwall, 2022
‘That includes higher penalties taken from water company profits which will be channelled back into the rivers, lakes and streams where it is needed.
‘This is not straightforward, but I take this issue extremely seriously and things need to change. That’s why we have developed this plan and we are committed to delivering the progress that people want to see.’
Bays in England with a Blue Flag mark – an international award recognising the finest stretches of coast – were soiled for nearly 8,500 hours in total.
Sandown on the Isle of Wight was hit by the most incidents, with 161 in 2022, according to the Liberal Democrats. Party leader Sir Ed Davey said: ‘Whilst these firms have been raking in multi-billion-pound profits, people swim in raw sewage. The whole thing stinks.’
Water bosses have earned £51million in the last two years.
England’s sewage firms can release sewage into waterways through storm overflows. But they are now being forced to cut the amount they release.
Allison Ogden-Newton, of Keep Britain Tidy, which runs the Blue Flag scheme, said the discharges ‘deeply concern us’.
In its Plan for Water, the Government wants to see more investment from water companies, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement for those who pollute.
It also includes a consultation on a ban of plastic in wet wipes and restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foam, textiles, cleaning products, paints and varnishes.
The substances are used in non-stick coatings for cooking pans.
Fines for releasing untreated sewage would be reinvested into a new Water Restoration Fund which the Government said would support local groups and community-led schemes to clean up waterways.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it has asked water companies to speed up investment in infrastructure to prevent sewage discharges, reduce nutrient pollution and improve the water supply’s resilience to drought.
Regulator Ofwat is considering approving 31 schemes worth £1.6 billion and is accepting comments from the public until April 24.
Ms Coffey is set to lay out her department’s plans in a speech at the London Wetland Centre.
Other proposals include giving farmers £34 million to improve pollution from slurry as well as £10 million to fund more on-farm reservoirs and better irrigation equipment.
The Government also wants to encourage water companies to install more smart meters in households to reduce water demand and help rare chalk stream habitats with a £1 million fund.
Labour’s shadow environment secretary Jim McMahon said: ‘This announcement is nothing more than a shuffling of the deck chairs and a reheating of old, failed measures that simply give the green light for sewage dumping to continue for decades to come.
‘This is the third sham of a Tory water plan since the summer. There’s nothing in it that tells us how, if or when they will end the Tory sewage scandal.’
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