PLANS to introduce much harsher targets for water companies have been welcomed.

The government is introducing a new Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, which will change how water suppliers tackle discharges of raw sewage.

The issue has been hotly debated in recent times, with MPs and celebrities campaigning for tighter controls to protect Britain's waterways.

The Victorians introduced storm overflows as a safety valve for combined sewage systems.

Now, under pressure from climate change and population growth, water companies use them too often, threatening the environment and sea users.

Ofwat is now consulting on measures that would ensure that water companies are transparent about how executive pay and dividends align to the delivery of services to customers, including environmental performance.

The plans were welcomed by Worcester MP Robin Walker, who said: "I welcome this plan which will mean that water companies will face strict targets and must completely eliminate the harm any sewage discharge causes to the environment.

"The current use of sewage overflows is completely unacceptable, and I will continue to push our water company to tackle them as soon as possible."

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: "This is the first government to take action to end the environmental damage caused by sewage spills.

"We will require water companies to protect everyone who uses our water for recreation, and ensure storm overflows pose no threat to the environment.

"Water companies will need to invest to stop unacceptable sewage spills so our rivers and coastlines can have greater protection than ever before."

The plan will be reviewed in 2027 to consider where the programme can be accelerated, taking account of innovation and efficiencies and how the programme is impacting bills.

Under this plan, there will be no changes to bills until 2025.

The plan builds on £3.1 billion investment from water companies to improve storm overflows between 2020 and 2025.

A raft of measures have also been brought forward in the Environment Act to tackle sewage discharges, including the requirement for greater transparency from water companies on their storm overflow data.

There have been 54 prosecutions against water companies since 2015, securing fines of nearly £140 million.