Fay Jones MP applauded the government for ambitious new targets designed to reduce sewage discharges.
Currently the use of sewage overflows by water companies is unacceptable, which is why the government launched the most ambitious plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows in water company history. The government has confirmed this by setting targets and expectations on water companies to significantly reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows.
The targets, which were voted on by Conservative MPs last week, signal the government’s ongoing commitment to cleaning up water quality.
Following on from the landmark Environment Act, the targets place strict obligations on water companies to reduce the amount of pollutants flowing into rivers. This is on top of the government’s progress in monitoring water quality. Since 2016, monitoring of sewage discharges has increased from an appalling 6% to just over 90% in 2022. This figure will reach 100% by the end of the year.
Fay Jones said: “This government is the first in history to tackle the health of the country’s seas and rivers. There was a lot of misinformation concerning last week’s vote from the opposition parties. Had we voted in line with them there would be no limits on the amount pollution allowed in UK waterways.
Instead, the targets we voted for last week will see enormous pressure brought on all parties to improve water quality across the UK. It is a great shame that Labour and the Liberal Democrats voted against putting these targets in place.
In the Environment Act, we brought in a range of new laws designed to reduce use of storm overflows. This is absolutely imperative for the health of the Rivers Usk and Wye in my constituency. We urgently need to see the rules in the Environment Act replicated in Wales so that Welsh Water Dwr Cymru is subject to the same strict conditions as in England.”
