We note that the Environment Agency does not consider any use of storm overflows to be a pollution incident: discharges from overflows are classed as permitted discharges as long as they comply with the terms of the relevant permit. This is unlikely to incentivise overall reductions in discharges. We recommend that the 124 Water quality in rivers Environment Agency reclassify significant sewage spills from storm overflows into watercourses in dry weather as pollution incidents, irrespective o...

We note that the Environment Agency does not consider any use of storm overflows to be a pollution incident: discharges from overflows are classed as permitted discharges as long as they comply with the terms of the relevant permit. This is unlikely to incentivise overall reductions in discharges. We recommend that the 124 Water quality in rivers Environment Agency reclassify significant sewage spills from storm overflows into watercourses in dry weather as pollution incidents, irrespective of permit compliance. Type: recommendation | Number: 35 | Paragraph: 191 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: The Department for Transport and National Highways agree that a level of increased ambition and delivery in this area should be supported and we will examine the feasibility of using existing funds in the current road period (2020–2025) to support this where possible. National Highways is working on