Correspondence: EAC Chair writes to Environment Secretary urging improvements in sewer overflow regulation

• Read the letter
• Environmental Audit Committee

The letter comes following findings from the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency and Ofwat had failed to comply with environmental law in relation to regulatory oversight of untreated sewage discharges.

Chair's quote:

“The Office for Environmental Protection’s findings are shocking, but not surprising. The fact that untreated sewage has regularly been discharged into our waterways in dry periods highlights that something has gone awry in regulating combined sewer overflows.

“Our Committee strongly supports the OEP’s decision in this investigation. We look forward to hearing how Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency and Ofwat plan to clean up our water ways. I hope that the OEP’s findings will spur further progress to drive unnecessary spillages out of the sewer network.”  

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