§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the operation of legislation to ensure that water companies do not save costs by switching off sewage treatment facilities at the risk of increasing pollution levels in coastal waters. [119580]
§ Mr. MullinLegislation provides powers for the Environment Agency to set conditions in consents for water company discharges so that necessary water quality standards are met. Where disinfection processes are in place, the Environment Agency requires disinfection over the whole year except where there are no clear benefits to ecological or human interests. The Environment Agency has powers to prosecute water companies in breach of consent conditions.