Policy paper

Storm overflows discharge reduction plan

The storm overflows discharge reduction plan sets stringent new targets to protect people and the environment. This will require water companies to deliver the largest infrastructure programme in water company history.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Applies to England

Documents

Storm overflows discharge reduction plan (September 2023)

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Storm overflows discharge reduction plan: impact assessment (September 2023)

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Storm overflows discharge reduction plan (August 2022)

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Storm overflows discharge reduction plan: impact assessment (September 2022)

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Water companies will have to achieve targets set out in the 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.

We will review this plan in 2027 to consider both where we can go further, taking account of innovation and efficiencies, and how this programme is impacting bills.

The plan frontloads action in particularly important and sensitive areas including designated bathing waters and high priority ecological sites such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and chalk streams.

The plan sets out our wider expectations for the water industry, to ensure their infrastructure keeps pace with increasing external pressures, such as urban growth and climate change. Water companies are expected to prioritise nature-based solutions, carbon reduction and biodiversity net gain in their planning.

In addition, the plan includes a report on the feasibility of eliminating discharges from storm overflows.

Updates to this page

Published 26 August 2022
Last updated 25 September 2023 + show all updates
  1. Added an updated plan and impact assessment.

  2. Added storm overflows discharge reduction plan impact assessment.

  3. First published.

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