Combined Sewer Overflows

In recent months the national Rivers Trust has campaigned extensively on the issue of sewage discharges into our rivers from CSOs. In high intensity storms, sewage is released into rivers as a hydraulic release to avoid it backing up into people's homes.

The result has been a Private Members Bill by Phillip Dunne MP, which is now passing through parliament, seeking to tackle the issue of sewage pollution entering rivers from these systems. If you would like to read the Bill and follow its passage through Parliament, you can find all the information on the Parliament website:

https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2019-21/sewageinlandwaters.html

If you would like to find out more about the issue affects Essex and Suffolk, please have a look at our information statement below. If you are a river user and are concerned about the issue of sewage discharges in your area please do contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60. Although in most cases these systems have been granted permits and will be making legal discharges, if you believe there is a threat to health please do report it.

Read our information statement here:

Storm overflows ESRT Information stateme.

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If you would like to see a map of the CSOs and private sewers that discharge into rivers, have a look at the Rivers Trust's interactive map entitled Is My River Fit to Play in? - by clicking here. Please contact the national Rivers Trust directly with any questions.

CSO image from the Freshwater Habitats Trust