§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many recorded incidents of pollution caused by leaking sewerage pipes there have been, broken down by statutory undertaker in each year since 1992. [99272]
§ Mr. MorleyDefra does not hold figures on sewage pollution incidents, and while the Environment Agency's database contains figures for pollution incidents for the last two years, it is not possible to identify separately those attributable to leaking sewers.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the environmental impact of(a) fat, (b) oils, (c) fuel and (d) other pollutants being poured into drainage and sewerage systems. [99273]
§ Mr. MorleyThe environmental impact will depend on the quantity of substance entering the drainage or sewerage system, and in the case of sewerage systems the672W extent to which the treatment plant can accommodate the load. Depending on the individual circumstance the impact can range from nil to significant, depending on what degree of intervention, prevention or mitigation is possible or achieved.
The Environment Agency records and reports on incidents of pollution. It also collects and publishes data on annual releases via authorised discharges of some 150 individual pollutants to the environment and to sewerage systems.
The Agency has worked with the Water Industry to identify and quantify sources of releases into sewerage systems. The environmental impact arising from these releases is not currently systematically assessed. However, work is underway that could enable the potential impact of emissions on environmental systems to be recorded. The research is expected to be completed in early 2004.
The Environment Agency has published a report on Oil in the Environment (Oil and Gas in the Environment. 1998). This gives an assessment of the significance of oil as an environmental pollutant.