From 2025, utility providers in England and Wales will be required to fit monitors on an additional 7,000 emergency overflow pipes that have to date not been accounted for, according to the Environment Agency (EA). 

This regulatory change comes as the EA aims to obtain full transparency regarding sewage discharge in the nation’s waterways. The EA argues that a high level of transparency is crucial as it drives necessary improvements from the industry.

Emergency overflow pipes operate only in urgent circumstances, such as mechanical failures, like power failures and outages – these should be situations out of the control of the water companies. 

Water companies will be required to install monitors on emergency overflow pipes in stages from the beginning of next year. Since 2015, water providers have been required to install event duration monitors, which monitor the duration of sewage spillages. However, water regulator Ofwat said in 2023 that about one in six monitors installed on the combined sewage overflow pipes worked less than 90% of the time in 2022. Another problem identified in regard to event duration monitors is that they only record when the outflows occur, not the volume of sewage released. According to the EA, only 16% of waterways in England and Wales meet minimum EU standards for ecological status, and none meet the standard for chemicals.

In 2023, a study was conducted into the reasons behind the increased frequency of untreated sewage overflows. It was concluded the biggest cause was the insufficient capacity at wastewater treatment plants; this meant that providers were releasing sewage into waterways even during dry periods. 

The EA is investigating a number of organisations over concerns there might have been breaches in relation to sewage regulation. A large scale criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at thousands of sewage treatment works is also being undertaken by the EA. In terms of criminal enforcement, EA figures show that since 2015, the EA has concluded 60 prosecutions against water and sewerage companies securing fines of over £150 million. 

It is important that water and sewerage providers are aware of this regulatory change, as the EA is clamping down on sewage discharge into the nation’s waterways.