Defra currently has no plans to make it mandatory for sewage plants to implement quaternary water treatment proposals. If changes are deemed necessary, these will be undertaken through usual consultation routes to assess the costs and benefits of making these changes.

In January 2023, the Government published its Environmental Improvement Plan. This included a commitment for more joined up management of the water system. The current water and floods policy and legal framework has been developed incrementally over time, resulting in over 15 national plans and strategic documents. Whilst each plan has its own purpose, we want to make the whole framework more outcome-focussed and fully integrated with other environmental plans and government delivery plans. We reiterated this commitment in our landmark Plan for Water published in April 2023.

The Government recognises the importance of having a robust drainage system both now and for future demand. To improve the strategic management of drainage and target investment appropriately to meet future needs, water and sewerage companies have produced Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). DWMPs set out how a water company intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, including how the drainage network will adapt to changes such as an increasing population and urban creep. Water companies in England (including Yorkshire Water) have already produced one round of DWMPs, with the final plans published in Summer 2023. As committed to in the Plan for Water and the Environmental Improvement Plan, DWMPs will be placed on a statutory footing for the next cycle (2024-2029), in line with the ambition laid out in section 79 of the Environment Act 2021. Statutory planning will help to ensure that sewerage companies fully assess the wastewater and sewerage network capacity and promote closer working and development of collaborative solutions with others who are responsible for parts of the drainage network, such as local authorities. Combined with other water plans and initiatives, DWMPs will help to ensure drainage and wastewater services are better managed and properly supported, as well as delivering greater efficiencies for customers and supporting investment in nature-based solutions.

The operation of sewage processing plants is a matter for water companies who must comply with any permit conditions that have been set. The use of Nereda reactors, a particular type of wastewater treatment process, must be in accordance with any relevant permit conditions.

A recent UK water industry project investigated the quantities and types of microplastics entering a range of wastewater treatment works. The Department reviewed the findings from the work and agrees with the conclusion that conventional wastewater treatment is effective in removing microplastics from wastewater. The evidenced showed treatment processes can take out an average of 99% of microplastics (by-number of microplastics) and 99.5% by-mass from wastewater arriving at the works.

Government recently funded an external rapid evidence assessment to better understand the costs, benefits, and efficiencies of installing filters in washing machines. The filters aim to trap textile microplastic fibres during the laundry cycle and before discharge to sewer networks and wastewater treatment works. The assessment concluded further evidence was needed to determine how to avert additional costs incurred by consumers of new washing machines with filters, and the consumer’s sustainable disposal of used filters.

A water industry investigation of the levels and types of microplastics entering a range of UK wastewater treatment works reported that conventional treatment can remove 99% of microplastics by number and 99.5% by mass.

National planning policy is clear that local plans and decisions should prevent new and existing development from contributing to, being put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by, unacceptable levels of soil, air, water or noise pollution.

Owners of industrial, trade and business premises are expected to use the best practicable means available to reduce odours, effluvia and other potential sources of statutory nuisance emanating from their place of work in the first place. If this is not happening, then local authorities have powers through the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to investigate and issue abatement notices to stop the problem from re-occurring if they determine a statutory nuisance exists.

The Government is clear that water companies will not be allowed to get away with illegal activity. Where breaches are identified, the regulators will not hesitate to take robust enforcement action.

Since 2015, the Environment Agency have concluded 59 prosecutions against water and sewerage companies including a record £90 million fine for Southern Water in 2021.

Furthermore, the EA can now use new powers to impose unlimited penalties for a wider range of offences following Government’s changes to broaden of the scope of the existing civil sanctions regime and remove the previous cap on penalties.

In addition, the Environment Agency and Ofwat have launched the largest criminal and civil investigations into water and sewerage companies sewage discharges ever, at over 2200 treatment works, following new data coming to light as a result of increased monitoring.

The Government has made clear that reducing phosphorus pollution must be a priority for the water industry through setting a legally binding target to reduce phosphorus pollution by 80% by 2038 against a 2020 baseline, with an interim target of a 50% reduction by 2028.

Christchurch sewage treatment works is operated by Wessex Water Services Limited. All water companies, including Wessex Water, are currently developing their business plans for the next water industry investment period, and agreeing these plans with the water industry regulators.

These plans, including all upgrades which will be undertaken as part of the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), will be made available to the public after Ofwat’s final determination in December 2024. Until then, the Government is not able to share specific information around which sewage treatment works are, or are not, included in the programme.