The pledge, revealed after the Queen's speech, follows pressure from green groups after data showed raw sewage was released in waterways for 3.1 million hours in 2020. Water companies are permitted to use overflows subject to conditions being met, but the BBC revealed some water companies have been breaching their permits. These are: a duty on government to publish a plan by September 2022 to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows; a duty on government to report to parliament on its progress; and a duty on water companies to publish data on storm overflow operations annually. Environment minister Rebecca Pow said it was an important step in providing "greater protection for our water environment".
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