Sewage pollution from water companies will be cut in half by the end of the decade, the Environment Secretary Steve Reed has pledged today, together with halving phosphorus from treated wastewater by 2028.

Excessive phosphorus is the most common cause of water bodies in England not achieving good ecological status - the nutrient is a by-product of the wastewater treatment process. There is an Environment Act statutory target to reduce phosphorus loadings from treated wastewater by 80% by 2038 against a 2020 baseline when 8,340 tonnes of phosphorus was released into waterways. The Environmental Improvement Plan also includes an interim target of 50% by the end of January 2028.

For the first time the Government has made a pledge to cut sewage pollution with a clear target which they will be held accountable to. The pledge is for a 50% cut in spills from storm overflows by the end of December 2029, based on a 2024 baseline.

The commitment comes as the Government vows “root and branch reform” to usher in a revolution in the water industry, ahead of the publication tomorrow of the Independent Water Commission’s final report.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:

“Families have watched their local rivers, coastlines and lakes suffer from record levels of pollution.

“My pledge to you: the Government will halve sewage pollution from water companies by the end of the decade.

"One of the largest infrastructure projects in England’s history will clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.”

Pollution levels were a decisive factor in the Government launching the Independent Water Commission last October – the largest review of the sector since privatisation.

Led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, the Commission’s final report will be published tomorrow with recommendations on regulation, strategic frameworks and support for consumers. The Government said it will respond to the recommendations in Parliament on Monday.

There are currently around 14,500 storm overflows in England, which are designed to act as relief valves when the sewerage system is at risk of being overwhelmed, such as during heavy rain.

The Government has required all storm overflows to have event duration monitors installed which provides information on sewage discharges. That information is published in near real time. Coverage reached 100% by the end of 2023. The water companies have been instructed to install monitors at 50% of emergency overflows by 2030, and 100% of emergency overflows by 2035.