MPs reject bid to stop raw sewage pumping into sea
THERE has been an attempt in parliament to stop water companies from discharging raw sewage into rivers and the sea, an issue that has seen warnings put out in Wales of dangerous bathing conditions.
An amendment to the Environment Bill was put forward but was controversially voted against with 10 Welsh Conservative MPs joining others in opposing the change.
A number of beaches in Wales have been affected by contamination from sewer overflow due to storms, and the Welsh seacoast can expect more warnings advising visitors to avoid swimming due to discharges. Most recently, alerts have been issued regarding Langland and Caswell Bay and unsafe swimming conditions at those locations.
The proposed Lords Amendment 45 to the Environment Bill would have placed “a new duty on sewerage undertakers in England and Wales to make improvements to their sewerage systems and demonstrate progressive reductions in the harm caused by discharges of untreated sewage.”
According to campaign group Surfers Against Sewage, 400,000 sewage pollution events occur during the year and it argues that current legislation is not working.
“Putting this legal duty on water companies to take steps to reduce their reliance on CSO’s (combined sewer overflows) could have made a real difference by forcing water companies to finally tackle their shocking sewage pollution record,” said a statement from the organisation.
The following Welsh MPs, all Conservative, voted against the amendment:
Simon Baynes (Clwyd South); Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan);
Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire);
Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Mon); David T C Davies (Monmouth); James Davies (Vale of Clwyd); David Jones (Clwyd West); Robin Millar (Aberconwy); Jamie Wallis (Bridgend); and,
Craig Williams (Montgomeryshire).
Two of the MPs who voted against the amendment have since explained their reasons.
Jamie Wallis, MP for Bridgend, said: “It is important to remember why we discharge into watercourses. Wastewater from rain is conducted into the system alongside wastewater and sewage from households and businesses. This is channelled into plants and purified before re-entering our river systems.
“However, when there is heavy rain, too much water enters, and pressure overwhelms the system. If the pressure reaches a certain level, the mixture of rainwater and sewage would simply flow back up the pipes and flood people’s houses.
“Had I supported Lord Wellington’s amendment to the Environment Bill, the mixture of rainwater and sewage would not have gone into the sea and rivers and would need to go elsewhere. I, believe had this amendment passed, it would’ve allowed waste to end up flooding our streets and fields.”
He said the Government had tabled a number of its own amendments that he supported to take further action on storm overflows which included:
A new duty on the Government to produce a statutory plan to reduce discharges from storm overflows and their adverse impact, and report to Parliament on progress.
A new duty directly on water companies to publish near realtime information on the operation of storm overflows.
A new duty directly on water companies to monitor the water quality upstream and downstream of storm overflows and sewage disposal works.
A new duty directly on water companies to produce comprehensive statutory drainage and sewerage management plans, setting out how they will manage and develop their drainage and sewerage system over a minimum 25-year planning horizon, including how storm overflows will be addressed through these plans.
A power of direction for the government to direct water companies concerning the actions in these drainage and sewerage management plans. The Government will not hesitate to use this power of direction if plans are not good enough.
He said: “I believe Lord Wellington’s amendment to the Environment Bill did not offer a detailed and practical solution, whilst the Government’s own amendments sought to deliver effective action that is needed to protect our waters in Bridgend and Porthcawl.
Alun Cairns, Vale of Glamorgan MP, added: “Completely resolving the problem of sewage discharges would require rebuilding the sewage system. Ministers have suggested this could cost between £150 and £600bn and take many years. For comparison, the Government spends around £160bn on the NHS in England every year. Obviously once we have the figures and the costs and benefits further measures can be taken.
“If MPs had voted last week to immediately ban any discharge of sewage into the river system then any heavy rainfall would have led to sewage flooding back up the pipes into people’s homes. It would have been grossly irresponsible to vote for this.
“In Wales the sewage management and discharge is carried out by Welsh Water, who answer to the Senedd. The UK Government have no say on these matters in Wales and it is not clear whether the Welsh Labour Government intend to follow the measures put in place for England.
“The issue is complicated and is being addressed in England by the Government. It would be helpful if those who genuinely care about river quality now demand similar action from the Welsh Government.”