Global S&T Development Trend Analysis Platform of Resources and Environment
Environment Bill further strengthened to tackle storm overflows | |
admin | |
2021-10-26 | |
发布年 | 2021 |
语种 | 英语 |
国家 | 英国 |
领域 | 气候变化 ; 资源环境 |
正文(英文) | Change will further bolster the present raft of measures planned for Environment Bill which will tackle water pollution. The Government has today (26 October) announced that the Environment Bill will be further strengthened with an amendment that will see a duty enshrined in law to ensure water companies secure a progressive reduction in the adverse impacts of discharges from storm overflows. The amendment bolsters the raft of measures already being taken by Government through the Environment Bill, which as currently drafted will put in place more protections against water pollution than ever before. Earlier this year the government published a new set of strategic priorities for the industry’s financial regulator Ofwat, which set out the direction from government that water companies must take steps to “significantly reduce storm overflows” and that the regulator should ensure funding should be approved for them to do so. This publication – known as the Strategic Policy Statement - strongly influences investment decisions and is one of Government’s key tools in driving action from water companies. This amendment will enshrine that expectation in law, to further align the Bill with the government’s strategic priorities for the sector and help to drive action from industry. Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
During wet weather, storm overflows release diluted wastewater into rivers, preventing a combination of sewage and rain from overloading the sewers and backing up into homes and businesses. As climate change has led to greater rainfall, and water infrastructure has not kept pace with population growth, their use has increased in recent years. Significant penalties have already been handed out to water companies discharging unacceptable amounts of sewage into our rivers. Earlier this year, Southern Water received a record-breaking £90m fine, while Thames Water was handed £4m and £2.3million fines for separate incidents. The Government will hold underperforming companies to account, and is already taking direct action to deliver progressive reductions in the harm caused by storm overflows through measures in the Environment Bill, including:
The Government has also taken significant action outside the Bill:
The age of our Victorian sewerage system means a complete elimination of discharges from storm overflows would be extremely challenging and initial assessments suggest would cost over £150bn according to the Storm Overflows Evidence Project, commissioned by the Storm Overflows Taskforce. The full research report will be published shortly. Our Environment Bill will ensure we deliver the most ambitious environmental programme of any country - transforming how we protect our natural environment, make better use of our resources and clean up our air and water. The Government has previously made amendments that set a new, historic legally-binding target to halt species decline by 2030 and allow ministers to introduce charges on all single-use items, not just plastics, helping to cut waste and put an end to throwaway culture. New measures will also help landowners secure long-term environmental benefits through conservation covenants and better protect ancient woodland in England. The amendment is also very similar to Amendment 45 in the name of the Duke of Wellington, which was debated in the House of Commons on Tuesday. The Government will bring forward the amendment in the House of Commons, when the Bill returns there for the next stage of passage. The Strategic Policy Statement to Ofwat is a very powerful tool for the Government to drive action from water companies, as it strongly influences investment decisions and financial assessment. The Government consulted on the Strategic Policy Statement recently.
Published 26 October 2021
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URL | 查看原文 |
来源平台 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
文献类型 | 新闻 |
条目标识符 | http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/340516 |
专题 | 气候变化 资源环境科学 |
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | admin. Environment Bill further strengthened to tackle storm overflows. 2021. |
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