§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the sites in the United Kingdom where untreated sewage is disposed of at sea from(a) short outfall pipes, (b) long outfall pipes and (c) shipping; what assessment of water quality has been made in each case; and what plans there are to strengthen treatment. [85847]
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§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 11 December 2002]: The question as it relates to Scotland and Wales is a matter for the devolved Administrations. For England and Northern Ireland the position is as follows.
Sewage discharges from land to coastal waters
Through our implementation of the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) significant improvements have and are being made to raise standards of sewage treatment. For example, as at 31 October 2002, 99 per cent. of sewage
Discharge name Outfall length Water quality situation Treatment expected (primary and secondary) Bangor (NI) Short Regular passes of mandatory standard December 2008 Brighton (E) Long Regular passes of mandatory and guidelines standards June 2007 Donaghadee (NI) Short No identified impact ors receiving waters December 2008 Hastings and Bexhill (E) Long Regular passes of mandatory and guidelines standards March 2003 Lame (Sandy Bay) (NI) Short Regular passes of mandatory standard-although failed in 2002 September 2005 Margate and Broadstairs (E) Long Regular passes of mandatory and guidelines standards March 2006 Portrush (NI) Short Regular passes of mandatory standard December 2008 Torquay (E) Short Regular passes of mandatory and guidelines standards Early 2004 As required by the directive we expected, by 31 December 2005, to provide secondary treatment for two discharges in Northern Ireland from communities with over 10,000 inhabitants, and appropriate treatment for 19 discharges below this threshold.
In England it is Government policy that all coastal discharges from communities with more that 2,000 inhabitants receive a minimum of secondary treatment. Consequently 20 discharges above this threshold are to receive this by 31 December 2005, and a further 22 below this threshold are to receive appropriate treatment.
Sewage discharges from shipping
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) has an Annex on Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships. Although the UK ratified this Annex in 1995, it was not until 27 September 2002 that the entry into force requirements were met at the International Maritime Organisation. The UK has 12 months from that date to implement legislation bringing it into force.
The legislation will apply to new ships of 400 gross tonnage and above; new ships of less than 400 tonnage which are certified to carry more than 15 persons; existing ships of 400 gross tonnage and above, five years after the date of entry into force of the Annex and existing ships of less than 400 gross tonnage which are certified to carry more than 15 persons, five years after the date of entry into force of the Annex.
Under the regulations, sewage can be discharged from ships using a treatment plant anywhere. Ships using a comminuting and disinfecting system can only discharge sewage more than three nautical miles from land. Sewage from a holding tank can only be discharged 12 nautical miles from land, at a moderate rate and when the ship is travelling at a speed of four knots or over. States can opt for less stringent discharge requirements in waters under their jurisdiction.
454Wdischarges (539 of 544) from treatment works serving over 15,000 people in England received primary and secondary treatment.
The following table sets out the untreated discharges from communities with over 15,000 inhabitants in England and Northern Ireland, the length of their outfalls, an assessment of water quality (against the mandatory and guideline standards of the Bathing Waters Directive), and expected date for provision of primary and secondary treatment. These dates are dependent on the resolution of planning and/or funding issues.