There were 2,358 pollution events (category 1 to 3) in 2014, and 61 serious pollution events (category 1 and 2). Both figures were an improvement on 2013, with the overall number of events falling for the second successive year. However the EA noted that it expects the nine major water and sewerage companies in England to ensure there are further reductions in 2015.
“The sector appears to have turned the corner from the record high in 2012,” notes the EA. “However category 3 incidents remain high compared to the numbers observed before 2010 and further improvements are needed by the sector. We want to see a further reduction in incidents from all companies in 2015.”
South West Water (169 incidents per 10,000km of sewer) and Southern Water (135 per 10,000) were the companies responsible for the most pollution incidents, with Southern having the most serious incidents. Wessex Water (44 incidents per 10,000km) and United Utilities (49) had the fewest, while United Utilities led the way in terms of the fewest serious incidents.
On self-reporting of incidents -– where the water companies notify the Agency about their incidents before a member of the public or third party does – the report says that in 2014, as over the last few years, the average self-reporting remains static at 66 per cent for the sector.
Yorkshire Water was the best water company for the self-reporting of incidents, with 77 per cent of incidents self-reported, and United Utilities were not far behind with 75 per cent. South West Water (42 per cent) and Thames Water (53 per cent) were least likely to self-report. The EA has told companies it expects them to be self-reporting 75 per cent of incidents by 2020.
Compliance with numeric wastewater discharge permits was 98.9 per cent in 2014, the highest ever level of compliance achieved by the sector. Only 40 sewage treatment works out of the 3,493 assessed failed to comply with their permit conditions in 2014, compared to 90 in 2013.
The figures were part of the annual Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) for water and sewerage companies carried out by the Environment Agency.
This article first appeared on WWTOnline.