Government to invest in AI to help water companies prevent sewage spills

Water companies are to use artificial intelligence (AI) to prevent sewage spills, the Environment Secretary Steve Barclay has announced.

The Government will invest in new AI technology that will be able to automatically adjust water levels in storage tanks and manage storm loads.

The money is part of a £180 million investment over the next 12 months aimed at preventing more than 8,000 sewage spills into England’s waterways.

It is hoped that the new AI technology, which will be used by Severn Trent Water, will be one of a range of measures that will stop 2,500 spills by the company.

AI will also be used by United Utilities to analyse its networks, so that proactive maintenance of its waterways can be better directed.

A further four companies – Anglian Water, Southern Water, South West Water and Wessex Water – will also get funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) under the plans.

The money will also be used to invest in thousands of new monitors to be installed inside sewers to check flows and spot blockages.

Overflows occur when excessive levels of rainwater overwhelm the water system and sewage spills through an outlet into rivers and seas.

Broader crackdown

Today’s action comes as part of a broader crackdown on water companies on sewage, after the environment secretary banned bonuses for executives where firms have committed criminal breaches.

Mr Barclay said that the amount of sewage being spilled into rivers is “completely unacceptable”.

He added: “This £180 million of accelerated investment, which will stop more than 8,000 sewage spills over the next year, is a welcome step forward as we continue to push for better performance from water companies and hold them to account.

“This money will mean more cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence, and more specialist staff to detect and reduce spills.”

No stretches of river in England are currently classed as in good condition, with nearly a quarter judged to be in a poor or bad overall condition – according to a report from the River Trust last month.

Severn Trent water, which is receiving £41 million in funding this year, was ordered to pay a fine of more than £2 million last month after a case was brought against them by the Environment Agency.

A court heard that in excess of 470 million litres of raw sewage was discharged into the River Trent between November 2019 and February 2020.