§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will place in the Library a copy of the W.S. Atkins' research into the scale and problems of private sewers; [162889]
(2) if she will make a statement on the steps taken since the end of the consultation period on the scale and problem of private sewers and drains in England and Wales. [162890]
§ Mr. MorleyThe research on private sewers carried out by W. S. Atkins, was contained in our consultation paper published in July 2003. A copy of that consultation paper, together with a summary of responses, has already been placed in the Library.
Since the consultation period ended, we have analysed responses and worked with stakeholders to identify the issues which will need to be resolved before a decision on the way forward can be made. We intend to publish our findings in early summer.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the total amount of solid waste which entered the sewage network in England and Wales in 2003, broken down by(a) household and (b) other sources. [162891]
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§ Mr. MorleyInformation on the total amount of solid waste entering the sewerage network in England and Wales is not collected for regulatory purposes. Ofwat obtains information on the total actual sewage from the ten water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. Aggregate figures for 2002–03 are as follows:
Sewage—Volumes Megalitres per day Unmeasured hosehold sewage 6,468 Unmeasured non-household sewage 167 Unmeasured sewage 16,635 Measured domestic sewage 2849 Trade effluent 757 Waste water returned 210,242 1 This is the sum of unmeasured household and non-household sewage. 2 This is the sum of unmeasured sewage, measured domestic sewage and trade effluent.
Volume Megalitres Septic tank waste 1,343 Cesspool waste 940
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of flooding have occurred in the last three years where raw sewage was involved in the contamination of people's homes and property; and if she will make a statement. [162892]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Director General of the Office of Water Services has provided the following figures.
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Number of incidents Overloaded sewers (hydraulic) 3,946 2,468 2,809 Other causes 4,213 3,116 3,219 Total 8,159 5,584 6,028 Number of properties Overloaded sewers (hydraulic) 3,228 2,108 2,318 Other causes 3,875 2,849 3,009 Total 7,103 4,957 15,327 1 Of these nearly 1,100 resulted from heavy summer storms that affected the north of England and for 1,159 propereties the flooding affected only uninhabited cellars. Notes:
- 1.Hydraulic causes: primarily a lack of capacity in the sewarage network.
- 2.Other causes: include blockage, collspse etc.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the(a) cost and (b) environmental impact per volume of sewerage from (i) main sewers, (ii) unadopted sewers, (iii) private sewers, (iv) septic tanks and (v) other non-sewer network-based systems for sewerage disposal; and if she will make a statement. [162896]
§ Mr. MorleyInformation on sewage disposal/ treatment costs has been acquired during the W.S. Atkins research into existing private sewers and drains in England and Wales. The information obtained was mainly in relation to operational data i.e. maintenance and repair costs. W.S. Atkins has suggested that private treatment facilities would on1306W average cost more per property per year to properly maintain than if the property was connected directly to a public sewer. If private treatment facilities are not properly maintained then there is a potential for them to cause pollution of their surrounding environment. In such cases, applications can be made under Section 101Aof the Water Industry Act 1991 for connection to the public sewer network.
The Environment Agency (EA) regulates many activities that have an impact on the environment, including those that have the potential to cause pollution of water. In this respect, the EA has responsibility under the Water Resources Act 1991 (WRA) for the regulation of discharges to controlled waters through the consenting system. If there is no consent, or consents are breached by causing or knowingly permitting any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter to enter controlled waters, this is an offence and the polluter is liable to prosecution under the WRA 1991.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the current state of sewerage infrastructure, including the(a) physical extent of the maintenance and repair backlog and (b) expected cost of these repairs. [162897]
§ Mr. MorleyI am informed by the Director General of Water Services, that the current serviceability of the sewerage network is stable.
Sewerage companies are under a statutory duty under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991, enforceable by the Secretary of State or the Director General of Water Services, to ensure the effectual drainage of their area.
Sewerage Undertakers will shortly be submitting to the Director General of Water Services, final business plans for the period of 2005–10. These plans will include capital maintenance to maintain the serviceability of their assets, and to sustain levels of service to their customers. The draft business plans submitted by the companies in August 2003 propose costs of £1.2 billion to maintain sewerage infrastructure in the period 2005–10.