The recent decision by the water regulator OFWAT to limit investment in sewage treatment works improvements over the next five years could have a damaging impact on important chalkstreams such as the Berkshire Kennet according to Reading West MP Martin Salter.

Speaking in the annual Commons debate on fisheries Mr Salter, who is also Labour’s Angling Spokesman said: -

“I share part of the River Kennet with the hon. Member for Newbury. We have seen increased turbidity in the river as a result of the opening of the Kennet and Avon canal, increased abstraction as a result of increased demand, point source pollution, and a prevalence of invasive species such as signal crayfish, which are decimating fish stocks. Some crayfish will actually lie under the vent of a spawning fish, eating the eggs as they emerge and thus preventing all opportunities for the recruitment of new fish.

I was disappointed by Ofwat’s draft determination, and also by the marginally better final determination that was published last week. I made serious criticisms of Ofwat-particularly in respect of the Thames Water region-for failing to take account of the need for continuing increased investment in dealing with waste water and sewage and tackling leakage, and, incredibly, failing to address the necessity of examining the impacts of climate change. It is true that Ofwat has allowed some significant investment. The Thames Tideway tunnel will make a major contribution, and despite the half-witted opposition of people such as Shaun Bailey and the leader of Hammersmith and Fulham, Stephen Greenhalgh, I believe it will make a radical difference. However, I worry about whether there will be sufficient investment in the 300-odd smaller sewage works which have an impact on Thames tributaries, including the Kennet.”

Mr Salter had previously written to OFWAT to object to their Draft Determination particularly in respect of the lack funding for leakage works and improvements to the 349 smaller sewage treatment works in the Thames region.

In his letter to the OFWAT Chief Executive Regina Finn he said

“I have had an opportunity to see the concerns expressed by a number of organisations, including the RSPB and WWF, who have expressed similar concerns over the long term implications of price cuts and reductions in the investment necessary to maintain and improve sewerage infrastructure and tackle leakage. They, like me, are clear that there are serious environmental implications arising from your draft determination. Indeed WWF have used their key objectives from their Rivers on the Edge partnership to assess the OFWAT draft determination which is found wanting in a number of key areas.

 Turning to my own area I consider it completely unacceptable that the draft determination reduces funding for mains renewal to control leakage by 36% and that this could lead to a rise in leakage of nearly 30 million litres a day by 2015. With a rising population and an uncertain security of supply due to climate change it is massively irresponsible not to be continuing the progress that has been made over the last three years in stemming leaks in the Thames Water area. Perhaps most seriously of all is the reduction in funding for the maintenance and improvement of the sewage treatment works by 27%. My local river Kennet is one of three southern chalk streams identified as seriously at risk and yet around 15,000 new homes are likely to be built in the catchment area over the next five years. Across the region as a whole this reduction in funding will mean that no fewer than 75 sewage treatment works will be highly likely to fail to meet their statutory consents on the standard of their discharges. As a result our local rivers will be further polluted.

 In summary I contend that the draft determination needs serious revision in order to prevent unacceptable environmental damage.”

Mr Salter added: -

“I know that higher water bills are hardly likely to be popular, particularly in a general election year, but the fact remains that there has been chronic under investment in the infrastructure of our water industry for many years. London’s creaking and leaking, Victorian water pipes waster nearly 600 million litres a day which only drives up demand for further abstraction. Increases in housing numbers in the Thames Water area will increase demand still further and could see some of the smaller tributaries of the Thames reduced to just a trickle in the summer months.

“Low flows and inadequate sewage treatment works are a recipe for severe environmental damage. The middle and lower reaches of the Kennet are not in a healthy condition for many reasons and I fear that these latest restrictions on investment imposed by OFWAT will make a bad situation worse.

I will be meeting Environment Agency bosses later this month to express my deep concerns and those of many anglers and environmentalists who fear for the future of rivers such as the Kennet which was once a crystal clear pristine chalkstream right down to the outskirts of Reading.”