Anglian Water passed thousands of pollution tests at sewage plants that weren’t carried out | Water industry

Anglican Water Company water It has passed thousands of pollution tests at its sewage plants that were never carried out.

Operational data reveals how more than 6,000 pollution tests could not be carried out from 2015 to 2024 under a controversial self-monitoring system because there was reported to be no flow of treated wastewater from the plants.

In some cases, the flow from sewage plants stopped for only an hour or two, meaning samples could not be taken. But even though no testing is done, sewage plants can be reported under the guidelines as compliant with environmental permits.

Analysis by Peter Hammond, from the Windrush Campaign Group Against Sewage Pollution (Wasp), found that Anglian Water had the highest number of ‘no-flow’ samples of any water and wastewater company in England and Wales over the decade.

In 2024, the water company reported 496 “no-flow” incidents, or 5.9% of all samples, according to WASP’s analysis. Hammond said Environment Agency You have not reviewed the reasons for not flowing properly. “Anglian Water needs to explain why there is a drop in the flow of treated wastewater in these cases when someone comes to take a sample, when there were no similar drops a few days before or a few days later,” he said. .

Anglican Water Officials say they investigated the no-flow incidents raised last week observer He said there are legitimate reasons why treated wastewater does not flow. The testers work independently from the operational teams of the sewage plants, with the sampling system audited independently, the company says.

It says its coverage is the largest geographic area of ​​any water company with many small rural stations that may have little flow from catchments at certain times of the day, and which are also vulnerable to flooding.

the The Environment Agency has now tightened its rules Effective January 1 to require water companies to reschedule sampling if there is no flow at the time of wastewater treatment. Water companies will also have to document when and why the failure to flow occurred and make it available for subsequent audit by the agency.

The self-monitoring system has received criticism because it allows water companies to “set their own homework.” Hammond will present evidence this week of the failure in the operator’s self-monitoring system to Sir John Cunliffe, who is conducting an operation Review in the water industry. The WASP campaign group is calling for the tests to be carried out by an independent body paid for by the water industry.

in In October 2019, Ofwat said Southern Water would pay £126m in fines and rebates for violations of license conditions, including creating “artificial non-flows” at wastewater plants on some sampling days. Once Southern Water was placed under investigation, the number of no-flow incidents it reported dropped from 124 in 2017 to 12 in 2018.

England’s nine water and wastewater companies have been monitoring potential contamination at their treatment works since 2009, in addition to other checks carried out by the Environment Agency. Water companies can face millions of pounds in fines for poor environmental performance, which includes compliance with sewage plant permits. The Environment Agency’s thresholds for compliance for sewerage works are stringent with the highest rating – ‘green status’ – at 99% or higher compliance with the permit requirement, and ‘red status’ at 98% or less compliance. Samples are tested for levels of contaminants, such as ammonia. This means that a few bad results can have a very significant impact on the water company’s performance.

One no-flow incident identified by Hammond involved a sewage plant in Hitchin in Hertfordshire where the flow of sewage suddenly stopped shortly before a tester arrived at 11.30am on 10 May 2021 to take a sample. It is understood that the flow of treated sewage stopped when an empty tank was being refilled.

At another business at Braunstone in Northamptonshire, no flow was recorded at 9.09am on 23 November 2022, even though the business appeared close to capacity. Officials say the reported lack of flow was due to a submerged sampling point.

At Coningsby Sewerage Works in Lincolnshire, the flow of treated wastewater stopped for less than an hour on 25 June 2021, during which time a laboratory arrived and was unable to take a sample. Officials say a reading done the day before and after the operator visited to take samples confirmed the plant was in compliance with the permit.

An Anglian Water spokesperson said: “There are entirely legitimate reasons for the number of ‘off-stream’ samples we see in our area. These relate to the size of our asset base – given that we cover the largest geographical area in the UK – and the nature of our many rural catchments and small water recycling businesses,” an Anglian Water spokesperson said. Which often do not have standard flows at different times of the day.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We are increasing regulations for operator self-monitoring tests and, since the start of this year, water companies must reschedule sampling if there is a no-flow event.

“We also investigate no-flow samples where there is a risk to the environment or if we suspect crime has occurred. In addition, we are conducting the largest-ever forensic investigation into possible widespread water company non-compliance, and are hiring up to 500 additional staff, Increase compliance checks, and quadruple the number of inspections of water companies by March next year. She says that no-flow can occur more often for legitimate reasons, and that the average percentage of no-flow samples at water companies is about 5%. corresponds to Non-flow rates when the agency took the samples.

A Defra spokesman said: “This government has wasted no time in placing water companies under special measures through the Water Bill, which includes new powers to ban the payment of bonuses to polluted water managers and bring criminal charges against those who breach the law. We are also conducting a full water sector review to formulate More legislation that will transform how our water system works and clean our rivers, lakes and seas forever.