Pollution (Hansard, 20 January 1972)

§ Mrs. Kellett-Bowman
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent river pollution has diminished over the past 10 years and the past two years, respectively.

§ Mr. Graham Page
Volume 1 of the report on the River Pollution Survey 1970, which was published at the end of last month, classifies each length of river in England and Wales into one of four categories according to its degree of pollution. Comparisons with the results obtained from a 1958 survey show that:

(a) the mileage of the worst category, of grossly-polluted non-tidal rivers, has 255 been reduced from 1,278 to 952 miles i.e. by 326 miles or about 25 per cent.; and

(b) the mileage in the next category of badly-polluted non-tidal waters, has fallen from 1,279 miles to 1,071 miles a net reduction of 208 miles or about 16 per cent.
While exact comparisons cannot be made because the lengths of river included in the respective surveys were not the same, it is reasonable to assume that the mileages of the more polluted rivers are comparable because of the significance attached in both surveys to the inclusion of all heavily-polluted watercourses.
2. Arrangements are being made to bring the information about river quality up to date as at the beginning of this year, when comparison with the 1970 survey results should be practicable.

§ Mrs. Kellett-Bowman
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many authorities are discharging untreated sewage and partially treated sewage, respectively, into water courses or the sea; and how these figures compare with 10 years ago and two years ago.

§ Mr. Graham Page
Volume 2 of the report of the River Pollution Survey 1970, which will be published in about three months time, will contain information on discharges of untreated and fully or partially treated sewage into tidal and non-tidal rivers and canals. The survey is based on information obtained generally in 1970 and arrangements are being made to revise it to show the position at the beginning of 1972. I regret that comparable information is not available for earlier years.
The Department is at present carrying out a coastal survey with the help of local authorities and sewerage boards which will provide up-to-date and comprehensive information about discharges of sewage to the sea.
I will publish the results, but again no comparable information is available for earlier years.