Bring forward requirements for tackling sewage discharges into seas and rivers

Closed 1,397 signatures

What the petition asks

Storm overflows were designed in the Victorian era to be used during extreme weather to prevent sewers becoming overloaded by releasing diluted wastewater into our rivers and sea. The system is outdated. The current government timeline and regulations is to have addressed the issue by 2050.

On the 26th Aug, 2022, the Government published a plan to require water companies to achieve the following targets so that discharges only happen when there is unusually heavy rain and when there is no immediate adverse impact to the local environment:

- By 2035, water companies will have to improve all storm overflows discharging into or near every designated bathing water; and improve 75% of overflows discharging to high priority nature sites.
- By 2050, this will apply to all remaining storm overflows covered by the Government's targets, regardless of location.

We implore the Government to set more ambitious targets, requiring water companies to address high priority areas by 2025, and all overflows by 2030.

Timeline

23 Mar 2023	Petition opened for signatures
23 Sep 2023	Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 1,397

Status Closed

Department Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Opened 23 Mar 2023

Closed 23 Sep 2023

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