Water Bill 2024-25
The Water Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 16 October 2024, and its second reading took place on 28 March 2025. The Library briefing provides an overview of the bill and background information.

On 26 August 2022, the Government published its storm overflows discharge reduction plan as a legal commitment under the Environment Act 2021. This briefing paper provides background information and statistics on storm overflows, outlines the main elements in the plan and provides answers to some frequently asked questions on the subject.
Q&A: Storm overflows discharge reduction plan (3 MB , PDF)
To prevent sewers from becoming overwhelmed when the system is unable to cope with a surge in volumes of water, combined sewer overflows (CSOs) or storm overflows are permitted. When in operation, storm overflows discharge raw untreated sewage (although significantly diluted) into waterways and the sea.
There are around 14,500 storm overflows in England. The Environment Agency’s 2021 data shows that there were:
On 26 August 2022, the Government published its storm overflows reduction plan as a legal requirement of the Environment Act 2021. This followed a consultation on the plan which ran from 31 March 2022 to 12 May 2022.
The plan sets out actions for water companies, the Government and the public to take to help reduce the impact of storm overflow discharges.
Two of the headline targets set out in the plan are:
The Government has called the plan “the most significant investment and delivery programme ever undertaken by water companies to protect people and the environment.” However, the Rivers Trust hihglighted that the plan “has not taken into account the thousands of responses to the draft consultation” and criticised “the government’s lack of ambition and clarity for the sector”. Water UK, the industry body representing the water sector, called the plan a “step forward” but called on the Government to do more to prevent housing developers adding to the burden on sewers.
Q&A: Storm overflows discharge reduction plan (3 MB , PDF)
The Water Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 16 October 2024, and its second reading took place on 28 March 2025. The Library briefing provides an overview of the bill and background information.
Find out about the rules broadband companies need to follow when they install telegraph poles.
This briefing sets out information on sewage discharges. It focuses on England. It covers what sewage discharges are, why these happen, legislation and targets, and an overview of progress.