Government and regulators potentially breached environmental law by allowing sewage spills

a { color: #880000 !important; background: #ffeeee !important; } Government and regulators potentially breached environmental law by allowing sewage spillsNews > EnvironmentThe government and regulators in England may have violated environmental laws by permitting sewage spills to occur more frequently than allowed by law, according to the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP). The OEP's investigation suggests that the government, the Environment Agency, and Ofwat may have misinterpreted the law and allowed water companies to discharge untreated sewage outside of exceptional circumstances. The potential failings date back to laws under successive Conservative and Labour governments. The OEP has given the authorities two months to respond to its findings.

What's happened

Why it matters

The potential breach of environmental laws by the government and regulators is significant as it raises concerns about the protection of waterways and the impact on wildlife and ecosystems. It also highlights the need for stricter regulation and enforcement to prevent pollution and ensure the health of the environment.

What the papers say

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has found that the government and regulators in England may have failed to comply with environmental laws by allowing sewage spills to happen more often than permitted. The potential breach of environmental laws by the government and regulators is significant as it raises concerns about the protection of waterways and the impact on wildlife and ecosystems. It also highlights the need for stricter regulation and enforcement to prevent pollution and ensure the health of the environment.

How we got here

The investigation by the OEP was prompted by a complaint from the environmental charity WildFish, which alleged that regulators were failing to enforce the law on sewage management by water companies. The OEP's findings suggest that there may have been misinterpretations of key points of law, allowing untreated sewage discharges to occur more frequently than intended. The potential failings date back to laws under successive Conservative and Labour governments.