Sewerage Charges (Hansard, 23 November 1977)

§ Mr. Hardy
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to introduce legislation to amend the Water Act 1973, especially in the area of sewerage charges and the cost faced by occupiers of homes not connected to main sewers.

§ Mr. Denis Howell
The Government's proposals for the future of the water industry were outlined in the White Paper "The Water Industry in England and Wales: the Next Steps", published in July. It is intended that legislation to implement these proposals, including those about sewage disposal from properties without main drainage, should be introduced as soon as practicable.

§ Mr. Hardy
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost incurred in total and per 1,000 gallons during 1976–77 by occupiers of homes not connected to the main sewers 799W for the emptying of cesspools in England and in the Yorkshire and the Severn/ Trent Water Authority areas, respectively.

§ Mr. Denis Howell
The information is not available in the form requested. The total cost of emptying a cesspool comprises two elements: the local authority or private contractor collection charge and the water authority treatment charge. No information is held of average collection charges. I understand that treatment charges by water authorities during 1976–77 were as follows—charge per 1,000 gallons.
Anglian

£2.79;

£3.32 from 1st October 1976;

£3.53 from 1st April 1977.
Southern
£2.34 where discharged at a sewage works;

£2.44 where discharged to a sewer;

A flat rate of £2.60 from 1 April 1977.
WNWDA

£3;

£3.50 from 1st April 1977.
South West
£4.
Wessex
£5 at inland works (allowing for VAT):

£4 at the coast (allowing for VAT);

From October 1976:

£4.65 at inland works (reduced because VAT not payable);

£3.70 at the coast (reduced because VAT not payable).
Thames

No charge;

£2 from 1st April 1977.
Severn Trent
£3, from 1st December 1976 a revised scheme was introduced, at the discretion of the Authority, for those district councils who keep adequate records of the distinction between cesspool and septic tank effluent. Charges are:

Septic tank effluent £7.20;

Cesspool effluent 90p.
Yorkshire
£4 for full treatment;

£3 for partial treatment;

£1 for coastal treatment.
From September 1976 local authorities were given a choice between the above charging scheme or one which distinguished between septic tank and cesspool effluent which charges were:
Septic tank effluent

£6 for full treatment;

£4.50 for partial treatment;

£1.50 for coastal treatment.
800
Cesspool effluent

£4 for full treatment (subject to annual £20; maximum per £15; household of £5).

£3 for partial treatment (subject to annual £20; maximum per £15; household of £5).

£1 for coastal treatment (subject to annual £20; maximum per £15; household of £5).
North West
No charge.
Northumbrian
£5.
I have indicated above the changes that have occurred since my answer to my hon. Friend on 23rd July 1976.—[Vol. 915, c. 631.]

§ Mr. Hardy
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received concerning the need for amendments to existing water legislation, especially in regard to costs incurred by occupiers of properties not connected to main sewers.

§ Mr. Denis Howell
Apart from representations received in response to the general proposals contained in the White Paper on the future of the Water Industry, 41 representations have been received on the subject of cesspool emptying charges since the reply to my hon. Friend on 3rd November 1976—[Vol. 918, c.609].