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Call Issued For Urgent UK Water Sector Reform
Urgent calls for reform of the water sector in the UK have been issued by a team of researchers from the Centre for Environmental Policy (CEP) at Imperial College London, with a symposium taking place earlier this year to discuss how the various challenges could be addressed.
The CEP’s professor Nick Voulvoulis was a keynote speaker at the event, which was set up to allow governments, regulators, water firms, campaigners and environmental charities the opportunity to examine the condition of rivers, lakes, streams and oceans, assessing new Labour plans to fix the water quality crisis and to evaluate the necessary reforms regarding pollution, infrastructure and water management.
Water quality in the UK
Last year, untreated sewage was discharged by water companies in England into waterways for a record 3.614 million hours, up from the 3.606 million hours recorded in 2023 (which was more than double the amount recorded in 2022).
The UK’s sewer network is one of the oldest in Europe, with many of the pipes dating back to Victorian times – and, as such, they’re no longer able to withstand the demands of 21st century society, with population growth and climate change starting to take their toll.
The system itself was designed to collect stormwater runoff and wastewater from industrial activities, as well as commercial and domestic properties, transporting it all back to treatment works. These plants have to treat a minimum amount of wastewater under specific environmental permits.
During periods of intense rainfall, the flow to full treatment minimum amount is set at three times the dry weather flow, so that sites have the capacity to treat wastewater flow variations.
But research from the CEP shows that chronic under-capacity of wastewater systems is one of the main causes behind the increased use of sewage overflows and the duration of spills.
Most treatment plants are now having to deal with significantly higher volumes of water than they were designed to be able to manage, which is why combined sewer overflows are being used more and more, having a detrimental effect on watercourses around the country as a result.
For example, untreated wastewater discharge can cause oxygen depletion or increased pollutant concentrations, putting public health and aquatic wildlife at risk.
Asset management
It is the responsibility of water companies to maintain sewerage assets and upgrade them as necessary so they’re able to handle additional flows, as set out in the water industry investment rounds that take place every five years. It seems, however, that investment has failed to keep pace with the increase in demand or with the deterioration of some assets.
What are the solutions?
Professor Voulvoulis said during his seminar keynote speech: “A modern and robust water infrastructure is vital to the country’s economic development as it secures not only the supply of water but also prevents the spread of illness and diseases, fosters economic growth and ensures a higher living standard.”
He concluded that a policy system must be implemented that shapes and influences the broader environment and conditions for the adoption of sustainable practices, which in turn will lead to sustainability transformation of urban water systems.
As the new Labour government asserts, regulations had been weakened rather than strengthened by 14 years of Conservative power but that failing water companies would now be put under special measures to rectify the situation.
In February this year, the Water (Special Measures) Act was ratified, assigning new powers to regulators to block bonus payments to executives found guilty of pollution, as well as criminal charges being an option for those who persistently break the law and automatic and severe fines handed down for contraventions.
Independent monitoring of sewage outlets has also been authorised, requiring the publication of real-time data on discharges within an hour. And annual pollution incident reduction plans are also now mandatory, ensuring that both regulators and members of the public alike can check what progress companies are making in curbing pollution incidents.
What can businesses do to help?
Businesses are particularly well placed to help improve water quality around the UK and they have a legal responsibility to ensure that water pollution doesn’t arise from their operations.
If you’d like to become more water efficient and improve the water footprint of your organisation, get in touch with the team here at H2o Building Services to see how we can help.