The Times newspaper is claiming victory for its Clean It Up campaign following news that the Environment Agency is to take over responsibility for reporting on sewage monitoring from the water companies.
According to a report in The Times this morning Environment Secretary Steve Barclay told the Chief Executives of England’s 10 wastewater companies at a meeting which took place yesterday that the era of self-monitoring is over.
The Times’ Clean it Up campaign has been calling for self-monitoring to be removed from water companies with the responsibility taken over by the Environment Agency.
The newspaper article states:
“Barclay told the heads of ten water firms that the system of self-reporting, which he called “marking their own homework”, had to end. He is reported to have pledged a 470 per cent increase in water company inspections by officials.”
The shift in how the wastewater companies are regulated is expected to happen within the next year.
The Times quotes a Defra spokesperson as saying:
“The environment secretary held a round table with water company CEOs to discuss their performance and necessary improvements.
“The meeting follows his letter to water companies in December calling for increased sewer management to prevent storm overflows. The round table also underlined the government’s determination to drive forward our Plan for Water, promoting more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement to hold companies to account.”
Click here to read The Times article online.
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