New reports published by the Environment Agency on regulation, pollution and waste show that pollution incidents from water companies are falling while the quality of the water environment continues to rise.
The latest data summarises Environment Agency statistics on serious pollution incidents in England for the calendar year 2015 - the water companies covered in the report refer to the nine water and sewerage companies operating mainly in England.
Water environment consistently affected by highest numbers of serious pollution incidents
In 2015, 65% of all serious pollution incidents affected the water environment, while 19% affected air and 21% affected land. The water environment is consistently affected by the highest numbers of serious pollution incidents.
In 2015, 325 serious pollution incidents affected the water environment, a 10% decrease compared to 2014, which saw a total number of 360 incidents. However, 65% of all serious pollution incidents affected water - in 2014 and 2013, this was 59% and 53% respectively. Activities with permits caused 26%, non-permitted activities caused 61% and in 13% of incidents affecting water the Environment Agency was unable to identify the source.
Containment and control failures are biggest cause of incidents
The biggest cause of incidents affecting water were containment and control failures (169 of 325 incidents, 52%). This continues the trend of previous years. It includes incidents caused by abnormal process operations, pipe failures, spillages, plant failures, control system or measure failures, sewer failures or overflows and storage tank failures.
Containment and control failures on farms were the single largest cause of incidents affecting water (54 incidents) followed by those associated with the water industry (46 incidents).
The sectors responsible for the largest numbers of incidents affecting water were:
- farming; 81 incidents, mostly caused by non-permitted activities
- water industry; 62 incidents, mostly caused by permitted activities
In 2015, the top 5 industry sectors causing pollution incidents were:
- farming (whole sector); 87
- water companies; 59
- biowaste treatment activities with permits; 32
- non-hazardous waste treatment activities with permits; 29
- waste treatment (metals recycling) activities with permits; 12
Biowaste treatment sector caused largest number of pollution incidents per 100 permits
The biowaste treatment sector caused the largest number of pollution incidents per 100 permits. The total number of permits in the biowaste sector is still rising, reflecting continuing growth. The largest increases in the number of permits held for biowaste treatment activities between 2014 and 2015 were for anaerobic digestion and aerobic mechanical and biological treatment (MBT); 71% and 32% respectively.
Pollution incidents caused by anaerobic digestion activities increased by 50% over this period. MBT, an emerging form of waste treatment in the sector, caused just under a third of all the biowaste treatment incidents in 2015
Commenting on the results, Harvey Bradshaw, Executive Director Environment and Business at the Agency said:
"This report highlights some significant improvements in the environmental performance of regulated businesses - which directly benefits people, the environment and the economy. Over the longer term these trends have been significant, and will provide a lasting legacy to the environment, as well as real financial savings to businesses."
"The sites we regulated caused less serious pollution incidents, less air emissions and we closed almost 1,000 illegal waste sites. The Environment Agency will continue to take swift action to protect the environment, raise standards of poor performers and use new techniques to disrupt illegal activity."
"We urge businesses to do even more, in some sectors pollution is still having an impact on our air, land and water and the Environment Agency will continue to work with industry groups to encourage good practice."
Water UK: water sector continues to face wide range of complex challenges
Water UK, the body which represents all the UK water companies, commented:
"The water industry is committed to improving the quality of waters around the UK. Between 1990 and 2020, the industry will have invested around £25 billion in environmental work. This dedication has led to significant reductions in pollution incidents, with the Environment Agency reporting a 50% reduction in phosphorus load discharged, and 23% decrease in biological oxygen demand load from sewage treatment works since 2000."
However, despite the positive results, the water sector is continuing to face a wide range of complex challenges and is working to secure the long-term resilience of water and sewerage supplies, Water UK added.
Click here to download the Environment Agency's Pollution incidents 2015 evidence summary
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