Nutrient pollution from sewage effluent is mainly tackled by the water industry at sewage
treatment works, but this is not an area we can ignore: we have recently announced 24 more nutrient
sensitive areas where additional action will be taken at sewage treatment works to tackle nutrient
pollution problems. There are also ways to address problems by natural means. For example, water
can be passed through reed beds to reduce sediment and help absorb run-off. Retaining wetland
habitats such as peat bogs also helps prevent flooding and soil erosion and assists in building up
groundwater supplies.