Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Thames Water on preventing early and dry discharges at Newbury, Hungerford, East Shefford, Compton, and Hamstead Marshall sewage treatment works.

The Secretary of State meets with water companies to discuss a range of issues, including the need to reduce sewage discharges into our rivers, lakes and seas.

The Environment Agency (EA) has had regular engagement with Thames Water on the issue of early and dry discharges. In the Rivers Kennet, Lambourn and Pang catchments, a leading cause is groundwater infiltrating the Thames Water sewer network. The EA requires Thames Water to produce Groundwater Impacted System Management Plans to set out how the company plans to reduce groundwater infiltration.

Across all water companies, the EA continues to progress its largest ever national criminal investigation into potential breaches of environmental permit conditions at wastewater treatment works. When its investigation is complete, the EA will consider all available options under its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy.