Thank you for all those who reached out to me and shared concerns about the management of our rivers. I understand your worries about reports of sewage and pollution being discharged into our precious rivers, and I'm here to provide an overview of the measures we are taking to address these concerns.
The volume of sewage and other pollution being discharged into our waters is completely unacceptable. The Government's Plan for Water unveiled earlier this year, is a testament to our commitment to improving the quality of our rivers. With an investment of over £2.2 billion, this plan accelerates vital infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing water quality and securing future water supplies. Notably, £1.7 billion of this funding is designated to tackle storm overflows, a significant contributor to water pollution. The plan also introduces a review of farming regulations to ensure they are fit for purpose.
To ensure these goals are met, Ministers have set stringent targets for water companies to reduce storm overflows, driving the largest infrastructure programme in water company history of £60 billion over 25 years. This is a credible plan which includes front-loading action in particularly important and sensitive sites, including bathing waters.
The Government's focus on regulation is equally important. Monitoring of storm overflows has surged from a mere 7% in 2010 to an impressive 91% today, with a commitment to reach 100% by the end of the year. This increase in monitoring empowers us to take immediate corrective actions against storm overflows and hold water companies accountable for their actions. The Government is clear that water companies must not profit from environmental damage and Ofwat has been given increased powers under the Environment Act 2021 to hold them to account for poor performance. In March, Ofwat announced new powers that will enable it to take enforcement actions against water companies that do not link dividend payments to performance for both customers and the environment. In addition, the Environment Act 2021 includes a target to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution from agriculture into the water environment by at least 40 per cent by 2038, compared to a 2018 baseline.
Furthermore, in July, the Government introduced legislation to remove the £250,000 cap on penalties for environmental offenses, as well as significantly broadening their scope to target a much wider range of offences. This will ensure that regulators have the right tools to drive compliance across a range of sectors, including water companies. Fines from water companies are being reinvested into the new Water Restoration Fund, which will deliver on-the-ground improvements to water quality and support local groups and community-led schemes which help to protect our waterways.
The Environment Agency has launched the largest criminal investigation into unpermitted water company sewage discharges ever at over 2,200 treatment works. The Government has also made extra funding available to the Environment Agency for 50 new farm inspectors to ensure that agricultural diffuse pollution regulations are followed. I am assured that Environment Agency funding is closely monitored to ensure that it can carry out its duties and functions effectively. Its funding for inspections comes directly from the permits issued to companies; enforcement is funded by government, and in the current Spending Review period, the Environment Agency’s environment RDEL (Resource) grant for 2022/23 increased to £96 million from £56 million in 2020/21.
I am pleased to inform you that these collective measures and others are making progress and Ministers will continue to make further improvements where necessary. Our bathing waters continue to improve, with 93% classified as good or excellent in 2022 compared to 76% in 2010. There is now 80% less phosphorus and 85% less ammonia in our rivers compared to 1990 when water was privatised.
Beyond these initiatives, our commitment to the environment extends to addressing issues like litter and plastic pollution. The Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse sets standards for cleaning litter from waterside land, and the Government proudly supports national clean-up initiatives, including the Great British Spring Clean and the Great British Beach Clean. We encourage individuals and businesses to join these events and be part of the solution.
The UK continues to contribute to the development of a new legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, that aims to end plastic pollution by 2040. Further, in 2018, the Government introduced one of the world's toughest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products preventing billions of tiny plastic beads from entering the ocean each year. In the recent Plan for Water, the Government announced that it would change the law to ban the sale of wet wipes containing plastic, subject to public consultation.
More broadly, the Government has brought in measures to restrict the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds. The use of single-use carrier bags has been reduced in the main supermarkets by over 97% since the introduction of the single-use carrier bag charge.
In conclusion, the protection and preservation of our rivers and watercourses are at the heart of our government's priorities. The Government is resolute in the commitment to clean water and environmental responsibility. We are making tangible progress, but rest assured, we will continue to strive for further improvements.
Thank you for the continued engagement as we work together to ensure a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all.