Guy Opperman MP news: MP backs action to tackle storm sewage discharge
Tynedale and Ponteland MP, Guy Opperman has said that the current number of storm overflow discharges are ‘unacceptable’ and welcomes the plan to tackle them.
Storm overflows are safety valves built into the combined sewer system to discharge excess sewage to rivers, lakes, or the sea when rainfall exceeds capacity. This protects properties from flooding and prevents sewage backing up into streets and homes during heavy storm events.
The Government recently announced its Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan.
Under the plan water companies, like Northumbrian Water, will face strict limits on when they can use storm overflows and must completely eliminate the ecological harm any storm sewage discharges cause to the environment and significantly reduce discharges to protect public health.
The plan comes after local MP, Guy Opperman supported the 2021 Environment Act through Parliament. The Act seeks to protect homes and streets, and tackle discharges, including the requirement for greater transparency from water companies on their storm overflow data, meaning there are now more protections are in place than ever before.
This is a costed plan, without imposing higher bills on the public. It avoids the massive disruption of completely redigging all of the water runoff and sewage pipes up and down the country at the cost of hundreds of billions of pounds.
Responses from the Plan’s consultation will be published by the 1st of September 2022, and then progressed.
Guy Opperman MP said:
“I am very aware and concerned by the environmental impact of storm overflow discharge in our local rivers and the sea.
A growing population, Victorian infrastructure, and an increase in extreme weather events has increased pressure on our system, bringing the frequency of discharges to an unacceptable level.
I welcome the plan to tackle this issue head on by ensuring water companies are held to account, by setting specific targets to ensure that storm overflows are only used in exceptional circumstances. I am meeting Northumbria Water and their local employees again next week to see the investment they are making in our local water network.
I will continue to work to ensure that our rivers locally are kept clean and safe”.