Agenda item

Stop dumping raw sewage in our chalk streams

Despite repeated calls to put a stop to the dumping raw sewage in our precious rivers and chalk streams, the latest annual assessment (published this July) by the Environment Agency showed a “shocking” decline in performance^[1] on pollution for most of England's water and sewage companies, much worse than previous years. Anglian Water was given just 2 stars for performance for 2021, meaning they require significant improvement.

South Cambridgeshire residents are rightly concerned about the health implications of the poor water quality in our chalk streams especially at a time in hot summer months when local children and families would expect to be able to bathe and enjoy nature-rich river banks.

The latest study by Cam Valley Forum^[2] has shown that the levels of E.coli are highest downstream of Anglian Water’s small sewage works in and around our villages, such as the one at Haslingfield, that are frequently discharging raw, untreated sewage into the rivers Mel, Rhee and Granta through ‘storm overflows’^[3]. The study points to the disturbing fact that when river levels are lower during the dry summer months, more of the chalk streams would be composed of effluent from the sewage plant and could, potentially, cause a risk to bathers’ health.

In June 2022, despite further information received from the water company, Ofwat decided to continue its enforcement case^[4] against Anglian Water due to serious concerns about its compliance with the requirements of their environmental permits^[5], particularly because of a lack of effective water quality monitoring and no immediate action plan in place.

This Council agrees:

• to support the chair of the Environment Agency’s call for increased criminal liability for the Chief Executives and Boards of water companies because they remain undeterred by the penalties currently being issued by the courts.
• to ask the CEO to write to the Secretary of State for DEFRA and the CEO of Ofwat asking them to introduce legally-binding targets for intermediate and ultimately zero discharges and a sewage tax on discharges.
• To ask Cabinet to consider the possibility of a formal application to Defra for an inland bathing water stretch along the River Cam in South Cambridgeshire, together with Anglian Water and local partners such as Cam Valley Forum; this would require the water company to undertake water quality sampling and monitoring for at least a year.
• That, given the seriously water-stressed status in our region, the CEO and Leader will call on Cambridgeshire MPs to urgently seek the government support necessary for investment in the regional scale water supply infrastructure called for in the Integrated Water Study evidence base for the draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan.

Council agreed the following motion:

Despite repeated calls to put a stop to the dumping raw sewage in our precious rivers and chalk streams, the latest annual assessment (published this July) by the Environment Agency showed a “shocking” decline in performance[1] on pollution for most of England's water and sewage companies, much worse than previous years. Anglian Water was given just 2 stars for performance for 2021, meaning they require significant improvement.

South Cambridgeshire residents are rightly concerned about the health implications of the poor water quality in our chalk streams especially at a time in hot summer months when local children and families would expect to be able to bathe and enjoy nature-rich river banks.

The latest study by Cam Valley Forum[2] has shown that the levels of E.coli are highest downstream of Anglian Water’s small sewage works in and around our villages, such as the one at Haslingfield, that are frequently discharging raw, untreated sewage into the rivers Mel, Rhee and Granta through ‘storm overflows’[3]. The study points to the disturbing fact that when river levels are lower during the dry summer months, more of the chalk streams would be composed of effluent from the sewage plant and could, potentially, cause a risk to bathers’ health.

In June 2022, despite further information received from the water company, Ofwat decided to continue its enforcement case[4] against Anglian Water due to serious concerns about its compliance with the requirements of their environmental permits[5], particularly because of a lack of effective water quality monitoring and no immediate action plan in place.

This Council recognises that, to overcome river pollution, partnership work between local authorities with key stakeholders is critical because pollution takes place from multiple sources.

This Council agrees:

• to support the chair of the Environment Agency’s call for increased criminal liability for the Chief Executives and Boards of water companies because they remain undeterred by the penalties currently being issued by the courts.
• to ask the CEO to write to the Secretary of State for DEFRA and the CEO of Ofwat asking them to introduce legally-binding targets for intermediate and ultimately zero discharges and a sewage tax on discharges.
• To ask Cabinet to consider the possibility of a formal application to Defra for an inland bathing water stretch along the River Cam in South Cambridgeshire, together with Anglian Water and local partners such as Cam Valley Forum; this would require the water company to undertake water quality sampling and monitoring for at least a year.
• That, given the seriously water-stressed status in our region, the CEO and Leader will call on Cambridgeshire MPs to urgently seek the support necessary for public-private investment in the regional scale water supply infrastructure called for in the Integrated Water Study evidence base for the draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan.

Councillor Pippa Heylings explained that following the driest July for 20 years the level of faecal bacteria in chalk streams had increased, as low river flow meant that pollution was more concentrated. It was clear that legislation passed last year had not addressed the problem and water companies had factored the expected costs of fines into their budgets. Councillor Heylings asserted that only by making the company directors criminally liable would the issue be addressed.

Councillor Geoff Harvey seconded this motion. He stated that the Environment Agency had been very critical of Anglian Water and the CEO of this organisation was in denial of the facts. The storm overflow drains were no longer fit for purpose and greater regulation was required.

Councillor Lina Nieto proposed the following amendments:

·         Add as a fourth paragraph “This Council recognises that, to overcome river pollution, partnership work between local authorities with key stakeholders is critical because pollution takes place from multiple sources.”

·         Amend final bullet point to read “… call on Cambridgeshire MPs to urgently seek the support necessary for public-private investment …”

These amendments were agreed by the proposer and seconder of the original motion without debate.

Councillor Daniel Lentell expressed his support for the motion. He stated that his experience of the gas and oil industry indicated that criminal liability for directors was an effective way of ensuring compliance with environmental legislation. He expressed the hope that the cleanliness of the county’s rivers would improve.

Councillor Heather Williams welcomed the cross-party support of this amended motion. She thanked councillors and the local MPs for their work on this important issue.

Councillor Brian Milnes lamented the decline in water standards, which had been upheld by the European Union’s blue flags scheme. He expressed his wholehearted support for the motion.

Councillor Pippa Heylings stated that water monitoring was vital to ensure that water was safe for humans and the natural habitat. She expressed her concern that water companies were more concerned with profit than maintaining high water standards and so more regulation was needed.

Councillor Pippa Heylings proposed and Councillor Geoff Harvey seconded the amended motion. A vote was taken and by affirmation

Council agreed the following motion:

Despite repeated calls to put a stop to the dumping raw sewage in our precious rivers and chalk streams, the latest annual assessment (published this July) by the Environment Agency showed a “shocking” decline in performance[1] on pollution for most of England's water and sewage companies, much worse than previous years. Anglian Water was given just 2 stars for performance for 2021, meaning they require significant improvement.

South Cambridgeshire residents are rightly concerned about the health implications of the poor water quality in our chalk streams especially at a time in hot summer months when local children and families would expect to be able to bathe and enjoy nature-rich river banks.

The latest study by Cam Valley Forum[2] has shown that the levels of E.coli are highest downstream of Anglian Water’s small sewage works in and around our villages, such as the one at Haslingfield, that are frequently discharging raw, untreated sewage into the rivers Mel, Rhee and Granta through ‘storm overflows’[3]. The study points to the disturbing fact that when river levels are lower during the dry summer months, more of the chalk streams would be composed of effluent from the sewage plant and could, potentially, cause a risk to bathers’ health.

In June 2022, despite further information received from the water company, Ofwat decided to continue its enforcement case[4] against Anglian Water due to serious concerns about its compliance with the requirements of their environmental permits[5], particularly because of a lack of effective water quality monitoring and no immediate action plan in place.

This Council recognises that, to overcome river pollution, partnership work between local authorities with key stakeholders is critical because pollution takes place from multiple sources.

This Council agrees:

• to support the chair of the Environment Agency’s call for increased criminal liability for the Chief Executives and Boards of water companies because they remain undeterred by the penalties currently being issued by the courts.
• to ask the CEO to write to the Secretary of State for DEFRA and the CEO of Ofwat asking them to introduce legally-binding targets for intermediate and ultimately zero discharges and a sewage tax on discharges.
• To ask Cabinet to consider the possibility of a formal application to Defra for an inland bathing water stretch along the River Cam in South Cambridgeshire, together with Anglian Water and local partners such as Cam Valley Forum; this would require the water company to undertake water quality sampling and monitoring for at least a year.
• That, given the seriously water-stressed status in our region, the CEO and Leader will call on Cambridgeshire MPs to urgently seek the support necessary for public-private investment in the regional scale water supply infrastructure called for in the Integrated Water Study evidence base for the draft Greater Cambridge Local Plan.