Rivers: Sewage
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department is taking to reduce sewage discharges affecting chalk streams such as the River Wriggle.
Answered by Emma Hardy
Over £10 billion will be invested to improve about 2,500 storm overflows in England by 2030, with upgrades prioritised at high priority sites including chalk streams.
In 2024 and 2025, the Environment Agency carried out compliance inspections at three of the four Wessex Water sites in the River Wriggle catchment area. One non-compliance was identified and a warning was issued. For 2025/26, attendance to lower category water industry related incidents was increased. Inspections will continue to be prioritised where spill data suggests frequent or prolonged discharges, or where other intelligence suggests risk of environmental harm.
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