No clear plan for tackling sewage in Wales

Wales lacks a clear and timely plan to address the “sheer quantity” of sewage being discharged into its waterways, the country’s climate minister has been told by a House of Commons committee.

The Welsh Affairs committee has written to Julie James, calling for greater urgency from Wales’ regulators and water companies to formulate a plan to replace the country’s ageing combined sewerage system in order to prevent “further, deeply damaging sewage discharge”.

Concerns about sewage discharges have been focused on English regulators and ministers over the past year.

However the letter says the committee has been very concerned about  evidence it has heard about the condition of Wales’ rivers and coastal waters and the current approaches to monitoring, enforcement, and regulation in the country.

It says key points of concern include:

• The accuracy of monitoring equipment, and therefore reliability of data
• The lack of monitoring of the volume of sewage discharged as well as the frequency of outflows
• The frequency of “unpermitted” sewage discharges from storm overflows and
• The low number of prosecutions in Wales to enforce water quality regulations and the apparent lack of appetite from regulators for stronger enforcement powers and sanctions

The letter says the committee is also concerned about an apparent lack of urgency in tackling these challenges, pointing out that while data has been collected on sewage discharges since 2013, regulator and companies’ response appears to be to pursue further research into impact of the issue until 2027.

“The significant work required to replace Wales’s combined sewerage system means there is no time to lose, and regulators and companies need to have a clear long-term plan stretching over medium term,” the letter adds.

“There seemed to be a lack of a clear and timely plan to address the issues highlighted, including the sheer quantity of sewage being discharged.”

The committee’s chair, Stephen Crabb MP, said: “We are all too aware of the number of sewage discharge events taking place on a routine basis, thanks to increased media attention and the efforts of campaigners to shine a light on this unpleasant practice. This can be damaging to human health and wildlife alike and should be minimised in any nation committed to protecting our natural ecosystems.

“Wales’ sewerage system is old and under enormous pressure from increased rainfall: it needs to be made fit for purpose. Unfortunately, our Committee, from what we have heard in evidence sessions with those responsible, are not convinced that there is an urgent plan to make crucial infrastructure upgrades.”