Government issues Storm Water Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan policy
Date published:
September 8, 2022
Water companies will have to achieve targets set out in the plan:
Storm-overflows-discharge-reduction-plan
· by 2035, water companies will have to improve all storm overflows discharging into or near every designated bathing water; and improve 75% of overflows discharging to high priority nature sites
· by 2050, this will apply to all remaining storm overflows covered by our targets, regardless of location
Overflows that are causing the most harm will be addressed first to make the biggest difference as quickly as possible, and water companies will be expected to consider nature-based solutions in their planning.
The plans will be reviewed in 2027 to consider how to go further, taking account of innovation and efficiencies, and impact on bills.
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