To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Marchington and P A Davies;
“This Council notes
that:
1)
Most of the UK has a combined sewerage system,
meaning that both rainwater and waste water (from toilets,
bathrooms and kitchens) are carried in the same pipes to a sewage
treatment works. However, during heavy rainfall, the capacity of
these pipes can be exceeded, which has the potential to back up and
flood people’s homes, roads and open spaces, unless it is
allowed to spill elsewhere. As a result, the system is designed to
overflow occasionally and discharge excess wastewater into our
rivers and seas. However, data shows that the use of overflows is
not occasional, as it should be;
2)
Sewage and wastewater discharge is a significant
factor in water quality and has an adverse impact on the health of
river ecosystems;
3)
According to the Wildlife Trusts, only 16% of waters
in England are currently in good ecological health and none meet
chemical standards. This means that, overall, there are no rivers,
lakes, estuaries or seas in England that are currently in a healthy
condition;
4) This is a local issue as well. Last year, the amount of time sewage was allowed to spill into Yorkshire’s waterways was 232,054 hours, with 54,273 monitored spill events. According to the Environment Agency, parts of Yorkshire have some of the highest number of serious water pollution incidents in England and Kirklees has ranked amongst the highest in recent years. Data from 2021 has revealed that 5 of the top 20 most polluted rivers are in Yorkshire, with the River Calder the second most sewage-polluted waterway in the country, with sewage flowing into the river and tributaries for 27,901 hours.
This Council believes that:
1) Healthy waterways are the foundation for all life, but our rivers and lakes have become poisoned, with has had a hugely negative impact on aquatic wildlife and habitats;
2) The Government needs to set out more ambitious targets to repair the damage inflected on our rivers and watercourses;
3) The council has a number of legal responsibilities in relation to protecting its rivers and watercourses as well as in relation to public health;
4) Local authorities, including Kirklees Council, should also have powers to fine water utility companies for preventable sewage dumping. The Council should use its voice to put pressure on water companies and the Government to make improvements and fulfil their obligations to Kirklees residents, and resident elsewhere across the country;
5) Many Kirklees residents are concerned about water quality and the impact of regular wastewater discharge and untreated sewage into our rivers, and the impact that this has on human health and wildlife. Now, more than ever, water quality is at the forefront of public consciousness, as releasing sewage into rivers is no longer an emergency-only situation occurring as a result of severe rainfall, but a regular occurrence. This is at a time when water companies are reportedly pushing to be allowed to increase water bills in England by up to 40% by 2030 to pay for the sewage crisis, essentially offloading the cost of cleaning up sewage spills on to British households.
This Council, therefore, resolves to:
1.
Work collaboratively with the Canal & River
Trust, Yorkshire Water and the Government, to improve water quality
and the health of our rivers, lakes and watercourses across our
district;
2.
Write to the Secretary of State for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs calling for an urgent ban on sewage
discharge in our rivers, lakes and watercourses. Furthermore, to
request that the Government is more ambitious in its overall target
to improve water quality. It should be in line with the Wildlife
Trusts’ target for at least 75% of rivers, streams and other
freshwater bodies to reach an overall ‘clean waters’
status by 2042;
3. Write to Yorkshire Water to request that:
(1) They stop
the routine discharge of sewage in our district’s rivers,
lakes and watercourses and invest in appropriate infrastructure to
reduce the frequency of the discharges;
(2) They
provide the Council with an action plan outlining the steps they
are taking to mitigate such instances of sewage discharge;
and
(3) They review the plan on a 6 monthly basis to consider how they are complying with their legal obligations on this issue.”
Decision:
Item not considered (Meeting terminated in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16:2).