BOSSES of the Environment Agency were cross-examined by MPs this week on issues such as flooding and the pollution of the UK’s lakes by untreated sewage water.

More than half of the North West’s sewer network is operated as a combined sewer system, this means that it carries both rainwater and wastewater.

During storm conditions when sewers and treatment plants are at capacity, water companies are permitted to spill excess water from sewage outflows, preventing devastating flooding in at risk areas like Carlisle.

The industry has pledged to improve discharges, reducing the impact on the environment.  

MP for Penrith and the Borders Neil Hudson asked the organisation’s chairwoman and its chief executive why the pollution of lakes and rivers is taking place at an "unacceptable" frequency.

Mr Hudson said: "In 2020, there were 400,000 sewage discharges totalling over 3 million hours, we all agree that is unacceptable. The Government has said that is unacceptable.

"But whilst that has gone on, the Environment Agency has said 99.2 per cent of water treatment works complied with their permits for sewage discharge. So how do you square that, that this is all going on but apparently the permits are all okay?"

Emma Boyd, chairwoman of the EA said: "Water and water quality is very high-up our agenda at EA. It’s been very good over recent months and years to see this go up the public’s agenda as well as the Government’s agenda.

"We have been working ever more closely with the economic regulator, Ofwat, to look at how we encourage, mandate the water companies to do more work in this area."

Mr Hudson was not satisfied with the answer, repeating the question.

Chief executive of the EA Sir James Bevan said: "I think you’re right to raise this because nobody wants rivers full of sewage. I think it’s good that there’s a public outcry, it’s putting more pressure on us as a regulator and on the water companies and probably on the Government as well.

"I think we have to recognise that the current system we’ve got it designed to discharge treated waste water when there are heavy rainfall events but also we have to recognise it’s doing far more than that.

"You’ve quoted the figures and they’re scandalous and it’s just unacceptable. Why is there a disparity between what we think we know, in terms of what’s going on at water treatment plants, and what comes out at end of pipe? The honest answer is I don’t think anybody knows but we’re doing work to investigate it."