Severn Trent River Ranger team manager says raw dumping is 'a myth'

Worcester News recently visited the Ladywood Sewage Treatment Works, near Claines, to discuss the highly debated topic of sewage dumping in waterways.

Dumping 'raw sewage' in waterways has been a highly debated topic recently, with the Industry and Regulators Committee recently hearing from industry experts and Environment Secretary Therese Coffey about the state of the UK’s water industry.

READ MORE: Un-flushable products causing blockages is an issue says Severn Trent

Gareth Mead, River Ranger team manager for Severn Trent, said the practise does not happen and that everything is controlled.

He said: "It’s a myth, it does not happen. We have controlled permitted processes that we follow.

"Storm overflows are only used when absolutely necessary and have been around for about 100 years now.

"The processes that we follow helps to protect homes and business from flooding, if water was not returned back to waterways this is exactly what would happen.

"It is incorrect to refer to ‘raw sewage dumping’ as their use is recognised and regulated by the Environment Agency.

"Opening the doors and explaining the process to people is important in busting these myths."

Gareth Mead, River Ranger Team Manager for Severn Trent. (Image: Newsquest)

At the Ladywood Sewage Treatment Works, sewage is collected, sorted and taken through various steps to clean the water before it is returned to the waterways.

Mr Mead said: "Ladywood is permitted to treat 199 litres per second of sewage and stormwater, anything over that will go for settlement in our storm tanks.

"Perimeters are always getting tighter and tighter, and water quality is always improving. 

"By 2030, Severn Trent wants to be using just 20 storm overflows a year.

"For the River Severn catchment, Severn Trent is responsible for 19 per cent of reasons for the river not achieving good ecological status.

"So, 81 per cent of reasons for the river not achieving good ecological sectors, are due to other sectors other than Severn Trent.

"For watercourses across Worcestershire county, 84 per cent of reasons for watercourses not achieving good ecological status are due to other sectors, with 16 per cent within the control of Severn Trent.

"Everyone has a part to play with the safety of our rivers."

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Earlier this week, it was announced that over £1.6 billion of new investment will be directed into vital infrastructure to improve the water quality of rivers, lakes and coastal waters.

It follows a request from Defra to English water companies to accelerate investments between now and 2025 to tackle storm overflow discharges, reduce nutrient pollution from treatment works and address water resilience challenges.