A new plan to tackle water pollution has been welcomed by MP Bob Seely.
The government’s Plan for Water details more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement on those who pollute.
It tackles every source of pollution, including from storm overflows, agriculture, plastics, road run-off and chemicals - as well as the pressures on our water resources as a result of hotter, drier summers and population growth.
It also includes a commitment to consult on a ban on the use of plastic in wet wipes.
Under the plan, fines from water companies will be reinvested into a new Water Restoration Fund, which will be used to support local groups and catchment projects.
The plan will also make sure water companies speed up their infrastructure upgrades – bringing forward £1.6 billion for work to start between now and 2025. Farmers will also be supported with an extra £34 million to tackle water pollution and boost food production, with an additional £10 million for farm reservoirs and irrigation.
Bob Seely MP said: “As a swimmer I hate the idea of polluted rivers, beaches and seas in and around the Island. We know that water firms need to undergo a sea change in behaviour. This government is ensuring that they do so.
“In 2021, the Government brought in the Environment Act, enforcing much higher standards for environmental protection and higher standards for water firms. Specifically, there is now a national plan for storm overflows into rivers, beaches and seas, and a national Integrated Plan for Water, announced today, to clean up water supply for future generations.”
The government is also consulting on a change in law to increase the scope and maximum amount the Environment Agency can secure in penalties for water companies for damaging the environment.
Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “I completely understand the concerns that people have about the health and resilience of our waters, which is why I am setting out this plan for a truly national effort to protect and improve them. That includes higher penalties taken from water company profits which will be channelled back into the rivers, lakes and streams where it is needed."
Seely said: “As the Island’s Member of Parliament, I persuaded Southern Water to make the Isle of Wight an example of best practice, nationally. This means prioritising the Island both for funding and for projects to significantly reduce the amount of water entering the sewers during storms.
“Millions of pounds - with millions more in the pipeline - has been committed to schemes big and small, including £13.5 million for Sandown Water Works, £2.5 million for work at Knighton, £5 million for Carisbrooke and over £7 million for works in Cowes, Newport and Brading.
“In total, Southern Water will, on current figures, invest over £60 million pounds in a series of projects across the Island, with more money expected to be pledged in the coming months and years.
“By improving pumping stations, replumbing parts of household and highway drainage and providing slow-drain water butts, pumping stations will be able to operate more efficiently to protect the environment better. Community schemes are an important part of this plan and initial evidence suggests that the water butt scheme works.
“A trial was conducted last year in Havenstreet. Before the trial, Havenstreet pumping station ‘spilt’ – polluted – up to 30 times a year. Two-thirds of eligible residents took up Southern Water’s offer of a free water butt installation. The result has been a 70 per cent reduction in spills so far. Clearly, however, the more people who accept the offer, the better the results.
“The water butt scheme is now being made available in Gurnard to households with a connection to the foul sewer (i.e. those that contribute water to storm overflows). The scheme will be rolled out elsewhere on the Island in the coming months.
“On the Island, we have one of Britain’s best water improvement schemes. The water butts are a small but important part of that. It’s a practical way of us all helping. The more of us that can say yes, the better the results. Therefore, if you are being contacted by Southern Water for a water butt, please do say ‘yes’.”
