Written Question·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·UIN 90856
Rivers: Surrey Heath
Tabled: 13 November 2025
Answered: 2 December 2025
Question
Dr Al Pinkerton
Liberal Democrat — Surrey Heath
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in nitrate levels in river water-courses in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answer
Emma HardyThe Environment Act sets targets to reduce phosphate entering rivers from sewage treatment. In Surrey Heath, the phosphorous permit at Camberley STW will be reduced to 0.25 mg/l as part of a Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) improvement scheme.
The Environment agency is actively working with water companies to review nitrate levels in the river Thames and influence the safeguard zone action plans.