Brussels takes UK to court over waste water failures

The European Commission (EC) is referring the UK to the European Court of Justice over its failure to ensure its waste water is adequately treated.

A total of 17 urban areas in the UK have failed to meet EU targets as set out in the European urban waste water directive.

In four of the areas in question – Banchory, Stranraer, Ballycastle, and Clacton – treatment is inadequate, whilst there is no treatment plant at all in Gibraltar.

In ten other areas, where the waste water discharges into sensitive areas such as freshwaters and estuaries, the existing treatment fails to meet the more stringent standards required for such areas.

The areas concerned are Lidsey, Tiverton, Durham (Barkers Haugh), Chester-le-Street, Winchester Central and South (Morestead), Islip, Broughton Astley, Chilton (also known as Windlestone), Witham and Chelmsford.

The case also concerns excessive waste water spills from storm water overflows in serving Llanelli and Gowerton. The EC says that while “innovative and environmentally positive” sustainable urban drainage solutions are now being implemented, the current spill rates are still too high and compliance is not foreseen before 2020.

The deadline for having in place compliant collecting systems for Llanelli and Gowerton was the end of 2000, while larger settlements had a deadline of the end of 2005.

A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs said: “It is encouraging that 98 per cent of waste water plants are now a good standard and we are working hard to improve the rest.

“Working with water companies, we have secured around £13.5 billion to improve infrastructure and are confident that we will be able to make the necessary improvements to get all treatment plants up to the EU standard by 2016.”

The case is set to be heard by the European Court of justice in 18-24 months’ time.