MPs have received a backlash after voting against amending a bill to stop water companies dumping raw sewage into Britain’s rivers and seas.  

Just 22 Conservatives, including a number in Essex, rebelled against the Government last week by voting for an amendment to the Environment Bill which sought to place a legal duty on water companies not to pump sewage into rivers. 

Sewage pollution is a key component of what MPs have heard is a chemical cocktail of pollutants going into rivers, with raw sewage being discharged into waters more than 400,000 times last year.

YH asked Harlow MP to explain why he voted the way he did.

Mr Halfon said: “Contrary to what has been reported and spread on social media, the idea that I voted to allow sewage into our canals, rivers and seas could not be further from the truth.

“I understand that many fair-minded residents have been alarmed by this recent news story, but I want to be clear that the facts of the matter are wholly different to the misleading stories being circulated by political opponents.

“Built in the Victorian era, the UK has only one system of pipes that takes both rainwater and sewage from homes, rather than separate systems. When there are storms, so much rainwater enters the sewerage system that it cannot be contained. If we did not have the overflow systems that are currently in place, then there would be flooding with raw sewage onto the streets.

“Because of the ancient nature of our systems, stopping sewage discharge into rivers is a problem so complex, no previous Government has attempted to tackle it, until now.

“The amendment being reported on, tabled by the Duke of Wellington, would not have stopped sewage being discharged into rivers during periods of extreme rainfall, instead it would also have likely led to sewage being discharged into the streets.

“This amendment would have tried to create a new sewage system costing anything between £150 billion and £650 billion to build. To put those figures in perspective, £150 billion is more than the entire schools, policing and defence budgets put together, and £650 billion is nearly twice what has been spent combating the Coronavirus pandemic. It would potentially bankrupt most water companies unless they passed on the bills to consumers or taxpayers. The cost works out at between about £5,000 and £20,000 per household.

“However, the Government is taking action to combat this complex problem, without causing sky high costs to Harlow taxpayers. I voted to support these measures which will introduce:

A range of immediate steps to address storm overflows, together with a legal duty on government to produce detailed and cost plans for reducing and eliminating storm overflows entirely.

A requirement on water companies to monitor the water quality impacts of their sewage discharges and to publish this information, with the Secretary of State able to make regulations in response. This will ensure water companies reduce sewage discharges that cause the most harm to the environment and public health.

A new duty on water companies to produce comprehensive statutory Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans setting out how the company will manage and develop its networks, and how storm overflows will be addressed through these plans.

A requirement for the Government to produce a plan, by September next year, to reduce storm overflows and their harm as well as a report considering the costs and benefits of eliminating overflows entirely.

“It is also worth noting that between 2020 and 2025, water companies will invest £3.1 billion in storm overflow improvements.

“These measures will stop sewage overflow into our rivers. The Minister has said that the law can be strengthened further without causing chaos to sewage systems, potentially bankrupting water companies and creating extremely messy streets during floods.

“The Environment Bill which is being debated has been introduced by the Conservative Government to tackle many of the historic environmental issues in our country and to protect our environment for future generations.

“I am proud of my record on the action I have taken to cherish our environment, tackle climate change and create a greener Harlow and a greener Britain, including:

Reducing greenhouse gases by a quarter since 2010 and voting for Net Zero by 2050.

Tripling tree planting rates to 30,000 hectares a year across the UK – equivalent to 46,000 football pitches – including thousands more in Harlow.

Introducing the plastic bag levy, reducing the plastic bag sales by over 95% and banning the sale of microbeads, plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds to protect marine wildlife.

Investing world-leading sums into reducing greenhouse gas emissions to create clean growth and sustainable energy production.

Quadrupling our renewable energy capacity since 2010.

“I’m also proud that the new Conservative Harlow Council has set a 2040 Net Zero target to massively reduce carbon emissions across the town.

“I cherish our environment, our green spaces, our canals and riverways and I will continue to do everything possible to protect it for future generations.

“Finally, I would encourage anyone concerned to watch this fact checking news report from GB News here which sets out the truth about this news story:

MPs are facing a backlash after voting against amending a bill to stop water companies dumping raw sewage into Britain’s rivers and seas.  

Just 22 Conservatives rebelled against the Government last week by voting for an amendment to the Environment Bill which sought to place a legal duty on water companies not to pump sewage into rivers. 

Sewage pollution is a key component of what MPs have heard is a chemical cocktail of pollutants going into rivers, with raw sewage being discharged into waters more than 400,000 times last year.

“Finally, I would encourage anyone concerned to watch this fact checking news report from GB News here which sets out the truth about this news story: https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1452562351329271814