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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) sewerage capacity in the UK, (2) the need to increase capacity in line with population projections, and (3) the ability of privatised water companies to invest and deliver the capacity required.

Under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991, sewerage undertakers have duties requiring them to provide, improve and extend their networks to ensure their area is properly drained.

Recognising the importance of having a robust drainage system both now and for future demands, a new statutory duty through the Environment Act 2021 will require water companies to produce comprehensive Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans from spring 2023. The first cycle of non-statutory planning is underway with draft plans being consulted on this summer, and final plans due spring 2023.

Sewerage companies are working with other risk management authorities to produce these plans, which will provide a full assessment of the condition and capacity of their networks and enable development of collaborative solutions. Statutory duties will better ensure companies identify long-term infrastructure needs and set out how they will manage and develop their sewerage networks.

Under the Water Industry Act, Ofwat has a statutory duty to ensure that companies can finance their functions, including those related to their statutory obligations.