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A simple solution to stopping raw sewage
10 August 2023
Barry Turner
Technical Manager - Castings
Raw sewage was discharged into England’s waterways more than 300,000 times during 2022, according to the latest Environment Agency figures. Foul drains that leak or overflow allow untreated effluent to enter storm drains, ultimately polluting our rivers and seas. This results in devastating damage to the environment and it is an issue that still demands urgent attention after years of water company criticism. Fortunately, there is a cost-effective, long-lasting, simple and sustainable solution to the problem, as Barry Turner, technical manager at Wrekin Products, explains.
Latest data from the Environment Agency reveals that waterway pollution is still a major problem. While the data shows a 19% reduction in the number of sewage spills – down from 372,533 in 2021 to 301,091 spills in 2022 – the Environment Agency highlights that it was still more than would have been expected given that it was such a dry year. With raw sewage dumped into rivers 824 times a day in 2022, environmentalists have warned that sewage-contaminated water has a disastrous impact, killing fish and other wildlife. It is also harmful to human health, potentially causing infections such as gastrointestinal illness and Weil’s disease. Allowing our waterways to become polluted carries very heavy financial penalties. Water companies have been taken to court by the Environment Agency and handed huge fines in recent years, while new cases continually emerge. SEWAGE DISCHARGE MONITORINGNations have a legal obligation to ensure that sewage is treated before it is pumped into rivers and seas. Untreated human waste is only allowed to flow into waterways in exceptional circumstances, such as after unusually heavy rain. Water companies must, by law, monitor sewage discharges and report them to the Environment Agency so it can see exactly what is going on and where improvements and investments are most needed. England’s sewerage network has seen an increase in monitoring and improvement schemes during recent years. Monitoring data was returned from 13,323 storm overflows during 2022 – with the duration and frequency of sewage spills now monitored at 91% of storm overflows across the country. This is up from 12,707 in 2021, equating to 89% coverage. Greater monitoring of storm overflows has produced a better idea of the scale of the problem, so the government has instructed water companies to install monitors on all storm overflows by the end of this year. Top blogsFinding a solution to the problemOne of the main reasons raw sewage is discharged into our waterways is overflowing manhole covers. Sadly, these incidents show only too starkly the catastrophic impact environmental pollution has on our waterways, our wildlife and our riverside communities. There is, however, preventative action water utility companies can take to stop foul drains from leaking and overflowing into storm drains in the first place. Our Unite manhole covers can come with the ideal solution to stopping foul drain leakage and overflow. When it comes to conventional seal plates, they have to be factory-fitted, meaning the opportunity is lost if it’s not ordered with its respective manhole cover. However, if water companies already have Unite manhole covers in place, they can retrofit a seal plate after installation – a huge time and cost advantage as it avoids the need for a complete replacement programme. Wrekin’s seal plates are available as either WRc Leak Class 2 low leak, or WRc Leak Class 3 no leak configurations. Alternatively, utility companies have the option of replacing their entire manhole cover network for Unite models if they don’t currently have them. Ideally suited to the needs of the water utilities sector, the Unite range has been developed to include design features that combine to give the longest life, and therefore the lowest whole life cost, of any D400 access cover on the market. It has also been created to be the most durable cover in its class by limiting cover flexing and therefore seating wear. Wrekin has also designed Unite to work sympathetically with bedding mortars, thereby reducing stresses on the frame foundation – identified as a major cause of manhole cover failure. The Unite covers also incorporate additional features to solve specific issues facing local authorities. Essentially four products in one, it is also the first manhole cover on the market that has a retrofittable ID badge. Most important of all for water companies, it offers the ability for seal plates to be fitted at a later date. Tackling the problemThe Environment Agency has said the volume of sewage being discharged into our waters is unacceptable and they are taking action to make sure polluters are held to account. With the decrease in spills in 2022 largely down to dry weather, not water company action, the Environment Agency is working to make sure overflows are correctly controlled to stop the terrible damage raw sewage inflicts on the environment. Comprehensive monitoring – up from just 7% in 2010 to the most extensive level ever now being at 91% – is one important step but strict targets on water companies to reduce sewage discharges require them to deliver the largest infrastructure programme in their history. This will be an estimated £56 billion in capital investment over the next 25 years, suggesting there will be a priority to address serious infrastructure issues such as ineffective drain covers. Related products
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