Campaigners have raised alarms over the Government’s Water (Special Measures) Bill, warning that England’s treasured National Parks will remain vulnerable to toxic sewage spills. Despite being described as a “landmark” piece of legislation, critics argue that the bill fails to address pollution in protected landscapes such as Lake Windermere, the South Downs and the Broads. Dr Rose O’Neill, Chief Executive of the Campaign for National Parks, highlighted the urgency of the situation. “England’s national parks are facing a perverse situation where rivers in these supposedly protected areas are often more polluted than those in urban centres. That’s because urban areas have more advanced sewage treatment systems,” she said.
The bill, which passed its third reading in commons on Tuesday (28/01/25), which promises tougher penalties for water companies, including automatic fines and the removal of bonuses for executives linked to major pollution incidents. While these measures have been welcomed as steps forward, environmental groups and opposition MPs argue that they miss a vital opportunity to prioritise national parks and other protected landscapes in the battle against water pollution.
A Missed Opportunity for National Parks
National parks have been conspicuously absent from the Government’s list of ‘high priority’ sites under the bill. Currently, water companies are required to significantly reduce sewage discharges by 2050, with an earlier target of 2045 for priority areas. However, under these provisions, areas like the Broads and the Lake District face no additional protections, leaving campaigners frustrated.
“National parks should be leading the way in environmental protection,” said Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrats’ Environment Spokesperson. Farron proposed an amendment to the bill that would have required national parks to be sewage-free by 2028, but it was not adopted. “This is a missed chance to set meaningful, ambitious targets for our most cherished landscapes,” he said, describing the bill as “five out of 10.”
The Broads, a network of rivers and lakes in Norfolk and Suffolk, epitomises the issue. In 2023 alone, over 3,700 hours of sewage discharge were recorded from just two sites: Knackers Wood and Belaugh Waterworks. The problem extends beyond the Broads themselves, as pollution from the headwaters of the Wensum, Yare, Bure, and Waveney rivers flows downstream into the protected wetlands, further degrading their ecosystems. The Rivers Trust reported over 6,000 hours of sewage discharge in the Broads Catchment area in 2023.
Mark Collins, Chair of the Broads Society, said "The Broads is one of the most vulnerable of the national parks family because it is small, just 300 sq km in size, and consists entirely of rivers, tributaries and wetlands that are fed by 3000 sq km of agricultural and urban water catchments. These new laws must take into account that the Broads is a unique and priceless area for nature, heritage and recreation and must be protected from pollution that arises elsewhere but passes across its boundaries and along its waterways."
Norfolk’s Broads: Progress in Tackling Pollution, But Challenges Remain
The Broads, one of England’s most ecologically significant landscapes, faces severe threats from nutrient pollution, much of which originates from sewage discharges. However, there are some signs of progress. Anglian Water has announced a £138 million investment plan for 2025–2030 aimed at reducing nutrient levels at 19 water recycling sites across Norfolk, in line with the Government’s nutrient neutrality guidance.
The initiative seeks to protect the Broads' fragile ecosystems, including the River Wensum, a chalk stream of international importance. Reducing the discharge of phosphates and other nutrients will benefit wildlife and water quality while also easing pressures on developers, who currently need to secure additional credits to build housing in areas impacted by high nutrient loads.
The targeted wastewater sites include several key locations along the Wensum, such as Dereham, Fakenham, Reepham, and Bylaugh, and others across the Broads, including Aylsham, Coltishall, and Belaugh. These facilities will receive significant upgrades to their treatment processes, reducing the maximum mean permitted phosphate output from 1 mg/L to just 0.25 mg/L.
Anglian Water has committed to completing upgrades at the three largest sites—Dereham, Fakenham, and Whittlingham—by 2027. These improvements represent a crucial step toward protecting Norfolk’s unique waterways, but more must still be done.
Some Progress, But Not Enough
While the bill’s lack of focus on national parks has been criticized, other provisions have been praised. The introduction of automatic fines for polluting firms and a ban on bonuses for executives of offending water companies have been welcomed. Furthermore, the Government has tabled an amendment to give Ofwat, the water regulator, a new ‘green duty’ requiring it to prioritise environmental concerns in its oversight of water companies.
A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) defended the legislation, stating, “For too long, water companies have pumped record levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes, and seas. This Bill is a major step forward in our wider reform to fix our water system.” Defra also highlighted an upcoming full review of the water sector aimed at shaping future legislation to further improve water quality.
A Call for Greater Ambition
Despite these measures, campaigners argue that incremental changes are insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. The Save Britain’s Rivers campaign has called for prioritising National Parks, and its manifesto urges the Government to protect these areas from sewage spills by 2030.
Dr O’Neill underscored the need for urgency. “It’s not just about the beauty of these landscapes; it’s about their ecological and cultural significance. The Government needs to go further and faster to ensure higher standards for National Parks,” she said.
For now, the battle to protect England’s national parks from toxic sewage spills continues. Campaigners hope the government will listen to their calls for stronger protections before it is too late for the lakes, rivers, and wetlands that define some of the nation’s most cherished landscapes.
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