§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extent and cause of eutrophication in Langstone Harbour; and what counter-measures his Department has taken. [28705]
§ Angela EagleAdvice from the Environment Agency indicates that Langstone Harbour is subject to effects of eutrophication such as regular and extensive dense weed growth. The Agency has identified water from the Eastern Solent as the major source of nutrients in the Harbour.
The Environment Agency has not taken any counter-measures in the Harbour. However, the Agency has considered the case for designation of the Harbour as a eutrophic sensitive area as part of the first review of designations required by the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. We shall be considering the Agency's recommendations from this review shortly.
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§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the official water category status under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive of the Solent area; and what plans he has to alter this status. [28798]
§ Angela EagleThe Solent is an estuarine water body under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Sewage treatment works which serve a larger than 2000 population equivalent and which discharge into estuaries are required to meet the Directive's secondary treatment standards. The Environment Agency considered the potential for identification of the Solent as a eutrophic sensitive area, in order to make recommendations to Government on the first review of designations required by the Directive. We shall be considering the Agency's recommendations from this review shortly.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what preliminary research his Department undertook prior to the determination of the standards required in the discharge consents granted to Southern Water's waste water treatment plants in the Solent; and by what means his Department evaluates the current discharge consents; [28799]
(2) what standards were applied to the procedures used to determine the standards required for the discharge consents for the proposed new Southern Water sites at Portsmouth and Havant; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which these standards were complied with; [28801]
(3) what assessment he has made of the ability of the proposed new Southern Water sites at Portsmouth and Havant to meet the required water quality standards; [28702]
(4) what assessment the Environment Agency has made of the compliance of the current storm overflow at Budds Farm with EU water standards; [28650]
(5) what account the Environment Agency took of representations from local people in determining the standards required in the discharge consent for Langstone Harbour and the Solent. [28800]
§ Angela EagleThe existing standards for the discharges to the Solent were set by the Environment Agency to secure compliance with all relevant environment quality standards contained in EC Directives in force at the time. The Environment Agency is required to review discharge consents at least every four years.
So far as the current proposals are concerned, the Environment Agency undertook a substantial review of existing data in 1993–94 to confirm that the Solent should be designated as an estuary under the terms of the Urban Waste Waster Treatment Directive. This means that all qualifying discharges into the Solent, including the Portsmouth and Havant schemes, are required to receive secondary biological treatment by 2000.
The Environment Agency will derive the appropriate quality standards for the Portsmouth and Havant discharges by applying national policy and technical guidance relating to water services companies' discharges. This is currently set out comprehensively in the AMP2 Guidelines Version 2 in the Environment Agency's Discharge Consents Manual.
418WAn important element of the proposals is to provide secondary biologically treated effluent for flows arising from the Portsmouth, Havant and Hayling Island catchments discharging through the Eastney long sea outfall into the Solent. The Environment Agency is currently determining the consent applications and has employed external consultants to audit the proposals rigorously to ensure they fully comply with the requirements of all relevant Directives. So far as the Bathing Water Directive is concerned, the Environment Agency will ensure continued compliance with the Imperative standards and is assessing the achievement of the more stringent Guideline standards.
All relevant EC Directives have been taken into account in assessing the compliance of the current storm overflows at Budds Farm. In particular, the Dangerous Substances Directive and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive apply directly to Langstone Harbour. The Environment Agency exerts control for the purposes of the Dangerous Substances Directive by imposing upon water services companies, requirements for limiting trade effluent discharges to sewers. Studies have shown the impact of the storm overflows in relation to the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive sensitive waters requirements are not significant. The treatment scheme will also address aesthetic improvements to storm overflows and will significantly reduce spill frequencies in recognition of the important commercial, amenity and conservation interests within Langstone Harbour.
The Environment Agency has issued, for comment, copies of discharge consent applications and supporting documentation to all statutory consultees, including local authorities, the County Council, MAFF (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science), Southern Sea Fisheries and English Nature. The Environment Agency will take account of their comments when determining the discharge consents. The applications have also been advertised in accordance with the Control of Pollution (Applications, Appeals and Registers) Regulations 1996. The Environment Agency has responded to all correspondence received, which will also be taken into account when determining the discharge consents.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance his Department issues on the appropriate treatment of waste water in(a) estuaries and (b) sensitive water areas. [28707]
§ Angela EagleThe EC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive lays down requirements for treatment of waste water discharged to estuaries and designated sensitive areas. All discharges to estuaries serving population equivalents greater than 2000 must receive secondary treatment. Discharges to sensitive areas must receive more stringent treatment involving the removal of nitrogen or phosphorus. The Environment Agency is responsible for determining, through the discharge consent system, how these requirements should be applied in particular cases. However, in July 1997, my Department issued a Guidance Note for dischargers and regulators on the implementation and interpretation of the Directive's requirements, which had been developed in consultation with other Government Departments, the water industry and its regulators.
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