Research and analysis

Anglian Water EPA data report 2019

Published 2 October 2020

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2020

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-and-sewerage-companies-in-england-environmental-performance-report-2019/anglian-water-epa-data-report-2019

This report provides company specific data and information on the Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) metrics. It contains current year and historic performance data. For further information on what each EPA metric means see our EPA metric guide.

In addition to the EPA metrics this report contains a section on event duration monitoring (EDM) delivery. For a comparison between water companies and wider regulatory information see the Environmental performance of the water and sewerage companies in 2019 report.

We set targets for each EPA metric. Company performance is then given a red, amber or green (RAG) status:

  • red - performance significantly below target
  • amber - performance close to or slightly below target
  • green - performance better than target

The thresholds are reviewed every 5 years.

1. EPA performance star rating

Annual performance star rating after assessment of Anglian Water’s performance across all EPA metrics

Year Overall EPA star rating (out of 4) Star rating description
2019 ★★☆☆ Company requires improvement
2018 ★★★☆ Good company
2017 ★★★☆ Good company
2016 ★★★☆ Good company
2015 ★★★☆ Above average company
2014 ★★★☆ Above average company
2013 ★★★☆ Above average company
2012 ★★★☆ Above average company
2011 ★★★☆ Above average company

2. Total pollution incidents (sewerage) metric (category 1 to 3)

Main facts

For 2019:

  • 266 actual incidents
  • 70% fewer incidents per 10,000km sewer than in 2011
  • 75,950km sewer length

Annual number of pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) from Anglian Water sewerage assets, with EPA rating

2011 to 2015 data

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
EPA status amber amber amber amber green
Incidents per 10,000km sewer 118 101 89 90 35
Actual incident numbers 518 446 392 394 152

2016 to 2020 data

Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
EPA status amber amber green amber N/A
Incidents per 10,000km sewer 32 30 25 35 N/A
Actual incident numbers 226 228 191 266 N/A

Annual number of pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) from Anglian Water sewerage assets, also showing EPA status and thresholds

Pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) for 2011 to 2019. The years 2011 to 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019 are amber (518, 446, 392, 394, 226, 228 and 266 incidents respectively). Years 2015 and 2018 are green (152 and 191 incidents respectively).

Graph note: the thresholds for a RAG status are shown in the graph background. EPA thresholds for normalised incidents (per 10,000km sewer) are shown in the EPA metric guide. They are revised every 5 years. Sewer length data was collected in 2011, then reviewed and adjusted where necessary in following years. Sewer length affects the actual number of incidents required to fall within a particular RAG status:

  • green status for Anglian Water was equivalent to ≤220 actual incidents in 2011 to 2015, ≤182 in 2016 and ≤193 in 2017 to 2019
  • red status for Anglian Water was equivalent to ≥570 actual incidents in 2011 to 2015, ≥355 in 2016 and ≥376 in 2017 to 2019

Number of pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) from Anglian Water sewerage and clean water supply assets in 2019

Asset type Number of pollution incidents (category 1 to 3)
Combined sewer overflow 7
Foul sewer 97
Other water industry premises 1
Pumping station 88
Rising main 20
Sewage treatment works 40
Storm tank 3
Surface water outfall 10
Water distribution system (clean)* 25
Water treatment works (clean)* 3

*Water distribution system (clean water supply) and water treatment works (clean water supply) are not part of the EPA total pollution incident (sewerage) metric.

For sewerage pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) we expect all water companies to achieve green EPA status (≤25 incidents per 10,000km sewer) by 2020.

For 2019:

  • 35 sewerage pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) per 10,000km of sewer - this is rated as amber
  • performance was better than the sector average (37) for sewerage pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) per 10,000km of sewer
  • needed ≤193 actual sewerage pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) to be rated as green

3. Serious pollution incidents (sewerage) metric (category 1 and 2)

Main facts

For 2019:

  • 12 actual serious incidents
  • 20% fewer serious incidents per 10,000km sewer than in 2011

Annual number of serious pollution incidents (category 1 and 2) from Anglian Water sewerage assets, with EPA rating

2011 to 2015 data

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
EPA status amber green amber amber amber
Serious incidents per 10,000km sewer 2 0.7 2.3 1.8 2.3
Actual serious incident numbers 9 3 10 8 10

2016 to 2020 data

Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
EPA status amber amber amber red N/A
Serious incidents per 10,000km sewer 1.3 1.2 0.8 1.6 N/A
Actual serious incident numbers 9 9 6 12 N/A

Annual number of serious pollution incidents (category 1 and 2) from Anglian Water sewerage assets, also showing EPA status and thresholds

Serious pollution incidents (category 1 and 2) 2011 to 2019. The year 2019 is red (12 incidents). The years 2011 and 2013 to 2018 are amber (9, 10, 8, 10, 9, 9, and 6 incidents respectively). The year 2012 is green (3 incidents).

Graph note: the thresholds for a RAG status are shown in the graph background. EPA thresholds for normalised incidents (per 10,000km sewer) are shown in the EPA metric guide. Sewer length data was collected in 2011, then reviewed and adjusted where necessary in following years. Sewer length affects the actual number of serious incidents required to fall within a particular RAG status:

  • green status for Anglian Water was equivalent to ≤6 actual serious incidents in 2011 to 2015, ≤3 in 2016 and ≤4 in 2017 to 2019
  • red status for Anglian Water was equivalent to ≥18 actual serious incidents in 2011 to 2015, ≥11 in 2016 and ≥12 in 2017 to 2019

Number of serious pollution incidents (category 1 and 2) from Anglian Water sewerage and clean water supply assets in 2019

Asset type Number of serious pollution incidents (category 1 and 2)
Combined sewer overflow 1
Foul sewer 3
Other water industry premises 0
Pumping station 3
Rising main 2
Sewage treatment works 3
Storm tank 0
Surface water outfall 0
Water distribution system (clean)* 1
Water treatment works (clean)* 1

*Water distribution system (clean) and water treatment works (clean) are not part of the EPA serious pollution incident (sewerage) metric.

For serious sewerage pollution incidents (category 1 and 2) we expect all water companies to achieve green EPA status (≤0.5 incidents per 10,000km sewer) by 2020.

For 2019:

  • 1.6 serious sewerage pollution incidents (category 1 and 2) per 10,000km of sewer - this is rated as red
  • performance was worse than the sector average (0.9) for serious sewerage pollution incidents (category 1 and 2) per 10,000km of sewer
  • needed ≤4 serious sewerage pollution incidents (category 1 and 2) to be rated as green

4. Discharge permit compliance metric

Main facts

For 2019:

  • 756 permitted sewage treatment works (STW)
  • 90 permitted water treatment works (WTW)

Annual discharge permit compliance (STW and from 2016 includes WTW) for Anglian Water, with EPA rating

2011 to 2015 data

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
EPA status amber amber amber amber green
Percentage permit compliance 97.1 98.1 97.5 98.6 99.0
Number of permitted STW discharges 721 720 718 719 728
Number of non-compliant STW 21 14 18 10 7

2016 to 2020 data

Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
EPA status green amber amber amber N/A
Percentage permit compliance 99.1 98.6 98.2 98.6 N/A
Number of permitted STW discharges 718 718 756 756 N/A
Number of permitted WTW discharges 77 75 83 90 N/A
Number of non-compliant STW 3 8 10 9 N/A
Number of non-compliant WTW 4 3 5 3 N/A

Annual discharge permit compliance (STW and from 2016 includes WTW) for Anglian Water, also showing EPA status and thresholds

Discharge permit (STW and WTW) % compliance for 2011 to 2019. The years 2011 to 2014 and 2017 to 2019 are amber (97.1%, 98.1%, 97.5%, 98.6%, 98.6, 98.2% and 98.6% respectively). The years 2015 and 2016 are green (99.0% and 99.1% respectively).

Graph note: the thresholds for a RAG status are shown in the graph background and in the EPA metric guide. They are revised every 5 years.

For discharge permit compliance we expect all water companies to achieve green EPA status (99%) by 2020.

For 2019:

  • 98.6% discharge permit compliance - this is rated as amber
  • 98.8% discharge permit compliance at STW and 96.7% discharge permit compliance at WTW
  • performance was worse than the sector average (98.7%) for discharge permit compliance
  • needed ≤8 failing sites to be rated as green

5. Self-reporting of pollution incidents metric

Main facts

For 2019:

  • 71% incidents self-reported
  • 208 incidents self-reported
  • 86 incidents reported by others

Annual self-reporting of pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) from Anglian Water sewerage and clean water supply assets, with EPA rating

2011 to 2015 data

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
EPA status amber green green green amber
Percentage of incidents self-reported 64 71 76 76 56
Number of incidents self-reported 335 317 302 311 87

2016 to 2020 data

Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
EPA status amber amber amber amber N/A
Percentage of incidents self-reported 66 71 62 71 N/A
Number of incidents self-reported 155 182 134 208 N/A

Annual self-reporting of pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) from Anglian Water sewerage and clean water supply assets, also showing EPA status and thresholds

Pollution incident self-reporting % for 2011 to 2019. The years 2011, and 2015 to 2019 are amber (64%, 56%, 66%, 71%, 62% and 71% respectively). The years 2012 to 2014 are green (71%, 76% and 76%).

Graph note: the thresholds for a RAG status are shown in the graph background and in the EPA metric guide. They are revised every 5 years.

Self-reporting of pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) from Anglian Water sewerage and clean water supply assets in 2019

Asset type Number of pollution incidents self-reported (category 1 to 3) Number of pollution incidents not self-reported (category 1 to 3)
Combined sewer overflow 3 4
Foul sewer 50 47
Other water industry premises 0 1
Pumping station 79 9
Rising main 16 4
Sewage treatment works 34 6
Storm tank 3 0
Surface water outfall 1 9
Water distribution system (clean) 19 6
Water treatment works (clean) 3 0

Self-reporting of serious pollution incidents (category 1 and 2) from Anglian Water sewerage and clean water supply assets in 2019

Asset type Number of pollution incidents self-reported (category 1 and 2) Number of pollution incidents not self-reported (category 1 and 2)
Combined sewer overflow 1 0
Foul sewer 2 1
Other water industry premises 0 0
Pumping station 1 2
Rising main 1 1
Storm tank 0 0
Sewage treatment works 2 1
Surface water outfall 0 0
Water distribution system (clean) 0 1
Water treatment works (clean) 1 0

For self-reporting of pollution incidents we expect all water companies to achieve green EPA status (≥75%) by 2020.

For 2019:

  • 71% self-reporting of pollution incidents - this is rated as amber
  • performance was worse than the sector average (80%) for self-reporting of pollution incidents
  • worst performing company for self-reporting of pollution incidents

6. National Environment Programme (NEP) delivery metric

Main facts

For the financial year ending 2020:

  • 149 schemes were completed to the planned deadline
  • 0 schemes were not completed to the planned deadline

Annual delivery of the NEP by Anglian Water, with EPA rating

Data for financial years ending 2012 to 2016

Financial year ending 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Asset Management Plan (AMP) AMP5 AMP5 AMP5 AMP5 AMP6
EPA status green green green green green
Percentage of NEP complete to date (cumulative) 114 103 100 100 100
Cumulative number of schemes completed during AMP period 25 98 97 162 1

Data for financial years ending 2017 to 2021

Financial year ending 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Asset Management Plan (AMP) AMP6 AMP6 AMP6 AMP6 AMP7
EPA status green green green green N/A
Percentage of NEP complete to date (cumulative) 100 100 100 100 N/A
Cumulative number of schemes completed during AMP period 71 204 209 358 N/A

Table note: AMP5 schemes that were completed early before their planned year were included in the cumulative delivery percentage (in some cases resulting in percentages over 100%). AMP6 schemes that were completed early before their planned year were not included in the cumulative delivery percentage until their planned year (cannot report over 100%). The thresholds for each RAG status are in the EPA metric guide. They are revised every 5 years.

For NEP delivery we expect all water companies to achieve green EPA status (≥99%) in any year.

For the financial year ending 2020:

  • 100% NEP delivery - this is rated as green

7. Sludge disposal and use metric

Main facts

For 2019:

  • 90,638t (tonnes) total volume produced (dry matter)
  • 17,990ha (hectares) land used for spreading
  • 99% of sludge produced was used in agriculture

Annual compliance with sludge disposal and use metric by Anglian Water, with EPA ratings

2011 to 2015 data

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
EPA status green green green green green
Percentage of sludge compliant 100 100 100 100 100

2016 to 2020 data

Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
EPA status green green N/A N/A N/A
Percentage of sludge compliant 100 100 N/A N/A N/A

Table note: from the 2018 calendar year, we suspended the metric from the EPA whilst we reviewed our regulatory regime for sludge. The thresholds for each RAG status are in the EPA metric guide. They are revised every 5 years.

Annual summary of sewage sludge disposal and use (dry matter) by Anglian Water

Year Sewage sludge used in agriculture (tonnes thousands) Sewage sludge recovered non-agriculture (tonnes thousands) Sewage sludge disposed (tonnes thousands) Actual quantity produced (tonnes thousands)
2011 98.8 3.6 0.0 102.4
2012 86.5 13.2 0.0 99.6
2013 93.2 13.4 0.0 106.6
2014 98.9 3.9 0.0 102.8
2015 96.3 2.5 0.0 98.8
2016 100.8 2.9 0.0 103.7
2017 97.9 0.2 0.0 98.2
2018 103.7 6.5 0.0 110.2
2019 89.9 0.7 0.0 90.6

8. Security of Supply Index (SoSI) metric

Main facts

For the financial year ending 2020:

  • 19 water resource zones
  • 1,136 Ml/d water distributed to the network (megalitres)

Annual compliance with SoSI by Anglian Water, with EPA ratings

Financial year ending 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
EPA status green green green amber N/A
SoSI score 100 100 100 99 N/A

Table note: the thresholds for each RAG status are in the EPA metric guide.

For SoSI we expect all water companies to achieve green EPA status by 2020.

For the financial year ending 2020:

  • score 99 - this is rated as amber
  • only company not to score green
  • reported a deficit in one water resource zone

9. Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) delivery

All water companies have investment in place to monitor the vast majority of storm overflows.

Installation of EDM monitors is mostly funded through the NEP however does not form part of the EPA NEP delivery metric.

Number of Anglian Water storm overflows with EDM

Year 2019
Total number of storm overflows 1,646
Number of storm overflows with annual data reported 449
Percentage company coverage 27
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