Thank you for contacting me regarding sewage pollution in the Water Industry.
The Environment Act 2021 places a legal obligation on water companies to progressively reduce the frequency and impact of discharges from storm overflows into rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Water companies are now required to produce and publish drainage and sewerage management plans outlining how they will manage wastewater infrastructure to improve performance and reduce overflows.
In March 2024, the last Conservative Government introduced a fast-tracked investment of £180 million over 12 months, which was expected to prevent more than 8,000 sewage spills.
The UK Government has announced that it will be launching an independent commission to lead the biggest review of the water industry since privatisation 35 years ago. The commission will seek to ensure that England and Wales has the robust regulatory framework needed to attract the significant investment that is required to clean up waterways, build new infrastructure to address water scarcity and restore public confidence in the sector.
Dŵr Cymru have a responsibility to ensure our waterways are protected, not allow unchecked sewage dumping to continue. In 2023, Dŵr Cymru released sewage into rivers, lakes and the sea around Wales for more than 916,000 hours - about 20% of all hours of discharges across Wales and England.
Dŵr Cymru has been allowed to dump illegally for years, and Welsh waterways are some of the most polluted in the UK. Wales faces four times as many sewage discharges proportionally than England, and Dŵr Cymru customers are seeing their household water bills increasing to become the highest in England and Wales. Wales is the only country in the UK without a dedicated environmental watchdog, it is clear that Labour have dropped the ball in protecting our waterways in Wales.
My colleagues and I will continue to monitor this issue closely and scrutinise the Welsh Labour Government over the sewage pollution in our waterways.