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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what obligations there are on Thames Water to maintain and update its sewage system; and what action she has undertaken to ensure that its sewage systems remain well maintained and updated. [211980] Mr. Morley: Sewerage undertakers are under a statutory duty under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991, enforceable by the Secretary of State or the Director General of Water Services, to provide, improve and extend public sewers (whether inside its area or elsewhere) and cleanse and maintain those sewers in order to ensure the effectual drainage of their area. In the treatment and disposal of sewage, Thames Water must meet obligations set by European and domestic legislation. These obligations are specified in discharge consents issued and enforced by the Environment Agency. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, gave guidance to the Director General of Water Services on policies for the Periodic Review of water price limits for 2005-10. The guidance identified proper attention to existing assets, maintenance, leakage and sewer flooding together with building on the already much improved water environment with further evidence based improvement among its priorities. Following that guidance, Ofwat's final determination for Thames Water includes an assumption of £1,366 million capital investment to maintain and upgrade its sewerage infrastructure in the period 2005-10. This will include capital maintenance to maintain the serviceability of their assets, and to sustain levels of service to their customers; investment to meet the demands of new customers; environmental improvements to deliver Government policy; and investment to remove properties from the risk of flooding from overloaded sewers.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

211980; 430 c1670W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Ofwat Pollution control Sewage Repairs and maintenance Rivers Thames Water River Thames

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk