press release
    2nd December 2004

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) have today welcomed further investment through water bills to protect the health of our lakes, rivers and seas and those who use it for recreation from pollution. However we note that the regular OFWAT has only allowed for investment to meet the minimum environmental improvements required by Ministers and impending European law and this is a disappointment for environmental groups like SAS. Within the environmental improvements programme there is however key investment to be made in updating and improving storm sewer overflows.

SAS have campaigned tirelessly over the last 4 years to ensure that storm sewer overflows are improved upon to stop routine dumping of raw sewage into streams and rivers around the country. We are pleased then that they feature strongly in the environmental improvements programme, but that more upgrades should have been included. SAS has seen a rise in pollution incidents, particularly in the South West as a result of storm sewer overflows (they kick in after heavy rainfall) and believe these to be the greatest threat in maintaining and improving on the performance of our bathing resorts and how they comply with European bathing water legislation.

One of our greatest concerns however is the lack of consideration given to climate change in the current periodic review. Both government and the water industry have done little to source up to date climate change data to use in planning investment for the 2005-2010 investment programme. It is clear from more up to date statistics we are likely to be experiencing increasing rainfall and this will place greater pressure on the current sewerage infrastructure. Over the next 5 years SAS will lobby government and the water industry to ensure climate change is accounted for in the way we update our sewerage and wastewater infrastructure. We will work to ensure more sustainable drainage systems are employed to separate sewage from surface water run off to take pressure off flows into treatment plants and more sustainable practices are used by the water industry to reuse rather than waste water.

We will also add our weight to support schemes that help low income groups pay water bills, particularly in regions like the South West where bill increases we will be higher than other regions. Richard Hardy, SAS Campaigns Director says: "We are pleased that our campaigning efforts to reduce pollution to beaches from storm sewer overflows have largely been included in the capital programme.

We are fearful however that not accounting for climate change in this review over the next 5 years may have significant implications for meeting water quality expectations in the future. Recreational water users and those benefiting from visitors that use our lakes, rivers and seas and beaches for leisure will however see further improvements in delivering clean and safe water". For further information please contact Richard Hardy on Tel: 0845 4583001 or Mob: 07711 767548.

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