Anglian Water to invest £50m on tackling sewage spills
Anglian Water is to invest £50million to tackle sewage spills.
It is part of £180million of fast-tracked investment to be made by several water companies that the government said would support the roll-out of storm overflow prevention measures by April 2025.
These include artificial intelligence systems, accelerated wetland programmes, installing new in-sewer monitors and recruiting and training specialist staff.
The government expects the measures to prevent more than 8,000 spills polluting English waterways.
An Anglian Water spokesperson said: “We recognise the need to go further, and work faster, to address public concerns on storm overflows. That’s why our shareholders have pledged an additional £50million this year to fast-track this work across our region.
“The money will be spent on tackling the issue at the source, from boots on the ground, to creating more capacity in our network, storing excess water and treating it, and using natural solutions like wetlands to remove nutrients such as phosphates to protect rivers across our region.
“We are investing in the right solutions which will have the most benefit for the environment now and in the future.”
The announcement comes as villagers in Ickleton complain of sewage flooding into their gardens following recent heavy rainfall.
In addition to Anglian Water’s £50m investment, it was confirmed that Severn Trent will invest £41m, Southern will invest £10m, South West will invest £32m, United Utilities will invest £39m and Wessex will invest £8m.
Companies such as Northumbrian and Yorkshire Water have not announced new fast-tracked investment, having already announced plans to take forward additional investment to tackle storm overflows this year, the government said.
Environment secretary Steve Barclay said the investment is part of government efforts to “push for better performance from water companies and hold them to account”.
He said: “The amount of sewage being spilled into our rivers is completely unacceptable and the public rightly expects action.
“This money will mean more cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence, and more specialist staff to detect and reduce spills.
“Today’s announcement builds on significant work by this Government to protect and strengthen our waters with increased investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement action.”
Mr Barclay directed water companies in December to accelerate plans and increase funding in order to measurably reduce sewage spills over the next 12 months.
The investment will add to the water companies’ previous £3.1billion investment for the period of 2020 to 2025.
It is the latest move to tackle concerns over levels of pollution being dumped into rivers, lakes and around the coasts from sources including overflow pipes and processing plants, causing harm to wildlife and the health of beachgoers as well as affecting tourism and leisure industries.
The government recently announced plans to block bonuses for water company executives where firms have committed serious criminal breaches, subject to Ofwat consultation, as well as to quadruple inspections on water companies in the next year.
