Water quality and sewage discharges

Inquiry5

The Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (“the Committee”) agreed to undertake a short piece of work on water quality and sewage discharges.

Evidence gathering:

The Chair wrote (PDF 81KB) to the Minister for Climate Change in relation to sewage discharges from storm overflows on 18 November 2021 and the Minister responded (PDF 239KB) on 3 December 2021.

The Chair wrote (PDF 84KB) to the Chair of Natural Resources Wales on 22 November 2021 to ask whether they plan to undertake an inquiry into sewage treatment works in Wales. The Chair of Natural Resources Wales responded (PDF 105KB) on 20 December 2021.

To help inform its work the Committee held oral evidence sessions with stakeholders on Thursday 3 February 2022.

Written evidence was received from Ofwat, Hafren Dyfrdwy and Welsh Water.

Report:

The Committee published its report: Report on storm overflows in Wales on 15 March 2022. The Welsh Government responded on 9 May 2022.

In October 2022, Natural Resources Wales provided a briefing note (PDF 111KB) in relation to recommendations made by the Committee in its Report on Storm Overflows.

Response from stakeholders to the Committee’s report:

Response (PDF 131KB) from Hafren Dyfrdwy in relation to the Committee's recommendations in its report on storm overflows in Wales.

Response (PDF 198KB) from Welsh Water in relation to the Committee's recommendations in its report on storm overflows in Wales.

Plenary debate:

A debate was held in Plenary on 15 June 2022.