From Financial Times:
Water companies in England and Wales will be required to install monitors on an additional 7,000 emergency overflow pipes used to dump sewage into the nation’s waterways, the environmental watchdog has said.
Although companies often blame unpredictable weather and climate change for causing more frequent untreated sewage overflows, a study by Imperial College London last year found that by far the biggest problem was insufficient capacity at wastewater treatment plants, which meant they were releasing sewage into waterways even during dry periods. The regulator is now investigating six water companies over concerns that they might have breached sewage regulation.
The EA is also conducting its largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at more than 2,200 sewage treatment works. Water UK, which represents the industry, said: “Water companies are committed to robust monitoring of storm overflows across England and Wales. “Due in part to their operating outdoors and in all weather conditions, some monitors will occasionally be temporarily out of action while maintenance is under way. This has improved, and the regulator has taken tough new powers to ensure the highest standards.”
Yesterday I tried Claude to admit that Thames Water's financial failure was due to over-regulation. The above article makes my case.
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