Ensure new sewage treatment infrastructure meets higher standards as in the EU

We urge the government to review the regulations for new sewage treatment infrastructure and introduce new legislation to ensure high international standards are met; to safeguard people’s health, better protect all water bodies and reduce damaging long term impacts.

All new wastewater infrastructure must be built to well-established, higher international standards, in line with the revised EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) standards in force since 1 January 2025, to significantly reduce the pollution load on water bodies. Proposed new schemes built to outdated standards must be stopped as they will continue releasing biological and chemical contaminants, including forever chemicals, harming water bodies, wildlife, and public health. They also risk a dramatic increase in customer water bills to pay for expensive and avoidable upgrades.

The government is considering a range of reforms to fix our broken water system. Delivering better outcomes and a more sustainable approach to drainage and wastewater management is a key consideration. 

We want to better address the root causes of pollution head on. We will ensure legislation, funding streams and regulatory mechanisms support the delivery of better outcomes and shift the focus towards ‘pre-pipe’ solutions, such as rainwater management and tackling sewer misuse. These changes are more sustainable, deliver wider benefits like reducing flood risk and increasing biodiversity, and will deliver better value for money for customers.  

In England, we are already taking ambitious steps to strengthen environmental and performance standards in the water sector and our recent Water (Special Measures) Act will deliver on the government’s commitment to put water companies under special measures to clean up our water.   

Through that Act, we will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry. We will strengthen the power of our regulators, increase transparency around pollution incidents and expand the cost recovery powers of regulators.  

Building on record investment to improve storm overflows and wastewater treatment, the government is developing a package of reforms to revolutionise the water industry, delivering a systematic approach to improving drainage and wastewater systems. 

We are also taking forward a programme of reforms to ensure that the water system better delivers outcomes for customers in a way that is efficient, fair and affordable. The report’s recommendations are the basis for the ongoing development of new legislation, and this government intends to bring forward a water reform bill early this parliament to reform the water sector and ensure it delivers for customers and the environment.