Recommendations & Conclusions
82 items
1
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Improving the quality of the water in rivers in England should be considered a principal objective through which the Government and public bodies can deliver on the legally binding duty, established in the Environment Act 2021, to halt the decline in domestic species by 2030.
Government response. The Government agrees with this recommendation. We know that our historic target to halt the decline in species by 2030 will not be achieved without action to improve water quality and abundance in water-dependent natural habitats. Rivers, lakes, ponds, wetland, …
2
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
A ‘chemical cocktail’ of sewage, agricultural waste, plastic and persistent chemicals is polluting rivers. River water quality has improved by some measures in recent decades, but in others it appears to be getting worse. The establishment of a complete overview of the health of rivers in England and the pollution …
Government response. The Government is already taking action through research projects as part of the Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment to confirm suitable monitoring and assessment methodologies for water quality, sediment and ground water samples. We are also currently developing a chemicals strategy …
3
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Poor monitoring arrangements mean that river users cannot currently make informed decisions about when it is safe or not to use rivers. The prevalence of plastic pollution, the presence of persistent chemicals and spread of antimicrobial resistant pathogens in rivers in England are all issues of grave concern. Not a …
Government response. The Government agrees with the need for urgency in taking action to protect and recover endangered species. With regards to threatened salmon populations, we have been working to build the evidence base regarding the complex impacts on this species to …
4
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The current range of pollutants being monitored is too narrow. The Environment Agency must begin work to extend the number of substances it is regularly monitoring in rivers. Existing datasets do not provide a comprehensive picture of risks to human health, aquatic life nor microplastic contamination in rivers.
Government response. The Government agrees that engaging stakeholders on antimicrobial resistance in the environment will be a valuable step following the Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, Food and the Environment programme. We are already engaging with water companies and UK Water Industry Research …
5
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs commission, in conjunction with the devolved administrations, a UK-wide survey of emerging pollutants and microplastic pollution of river environments, including an assessment of their potential impact on aquatic ecology.
Government response. The Government recognises the scale of the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the need to take concerted action across sectors to tackle it. In 2019, the Government published a ‘20-year Vision’ on AMR, in which resistance is effectively contained …
6
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Wild salmon are iconic and important species. It should ring alarm bells that wild salmon are classed as ‘at risk’ or ‘probably at risk’ in almost every river in England they traverse. Protecting rivers where important species such as the North Atlantic salmon are known to be in danger must …
Government response. Anyone, including water companies, can apply for a new bathing water designation and the Government then considers those applications. We encourage applications for new bathing water designations annually and are actively exploring ways to make the application process more accessible …
7
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We have heard disturbing evidence that sewage treatment works and the rivers that they discharge into are becoming breeding grounds for antimicrobial resistance. There will need to be cross-sector collaboration to reduce the growth of antimicrobial resistance genes in rivers. Following the work streams of the Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, …
Government response. improved. The Government is already working closely with the Environment Agency, the Storm Overflows Taskforce and the water industry on relevant proposals to enable this and ensure accountability. Water companies have committed to bring forward full event duration monitoring by …
8
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We welcome the Environment Act’s inclusion of a requirement on water companies to reduce the impact on public health of sewage discharges. We recommend that this includes consideration of antimicrobial resistance.
Government response. The Government agrees it is important bathers have access to timely information on water quality. Under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, designated bathing waters are required to have signage, which is the responsibility of the local authority, and it is …
9
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Every community in the country should have access to waters—whether coastal or inland—that are safe for people to swim in without running the risk of falling ill. Regulators and water companies have made a great deal of progress since the 1990s in cleaning up and monitoring our coastal waters so …
Government response. take positive action to improve water quality. Many of the actions that environmental land management schemes will incentivise will help reduce all major forms of pollution, including faecal pollution and nutrients. This includes the actions under the Sustainable Farming Incentive …
10
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that the Government actively encourage the designation of at least one widely used stretch of river for bathing in each water company area by 2025 at the latest. In their Business Plans for Ofwat’s Price Review 24, each water and sewerage company should set out how they intend …
Government response. The Government agrees that protecting public health through designating bathing waters, in particular rivers, should complement ecological status. We believe that measures to reduce bacterial load in the water to meet bathing water classifications should have a positive impact on …
11
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Most river users cannot currently make informed decisions about when it is safe or not to use rivers downstream of storm overflows and wastewater treatment works. We recommend as a matter of urgency that the Environment Agency work with water companies to ensure that easily accessible information on sewage discharges …
Government response. is important. The Environment Agency regularly carries out extensive modelling and monitoring of the water environment to detect nutrient flows across catchments, alongside trends in other existing and emerging pollutants. This monitoring and modelling would be used to help measure …
12
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
When deciding on areas for designation, the costs and benefits for local stakeholders should be carefully assessed, with consideration given to the potential impact on land adjacent to bathing waters. We recommend that DEFRA ensure its Environmental Land Management Scheme supports action by farmers with land adjacent to designated waters …
Government response. The Government does not agree that planning authorities should adopt a broad policy against farming infrastructure. As the NPPF sets out that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment, preventing new and existing …
13
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Designation of stretches of river as bathing waters will help to drive coordinated action to improve water quality: but achieving rivers safe to swim in is only one aspect of securing an overall improvement in water quality. Designation of bathing waters must therefore go hand in hand with further measures …
Government response. The Government agrees that minimum standards for mitigating water pollution from agriculture should evolve over time to improve water quality by reflecting best farming practice, technological innovation and the needs of consumers. The Government is already taking action to improve …
14
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Intensive livestock and poultry farming appears to be putting enormous pressure on particular catchments, such as those feeding the river Wye running through Wales and the south-west Midlands. The number of chickens being reared there appears Water quality in rivers 121 to have increased significantly, and pollution from their waste …
Government response. The Government is committed, in the Agricultural Transition Plan, to make funding available for farmers to improve their slurry infrastructure (including storage and covers) from autumn 2022. We are currently co-designing the grant offer with farmers, experts, sector representatives, and …
15
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Development of catchment sensitive farming will require calculations of the overall nitrogen and phosphorous load for farmland and river catchments. We therefore recommend that DEFRA commission a periodic (five yearly) appraisal of catchment-wide nutrient flows across each of the major river catchments in England. Such appraisals should then be used …
Government response. The chemical complexity of incoming sewage has changed in recent years, and work is already underway to improve our understanding of the emerging risks. The ‘UK Water Industry Research Source to Sea’ microplastics study has provided valuable insight. The current …
16
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We further recommend that planning authorities in England establish a presumption against granting planning permission for new intensive poultry or other intensive livestock units in catchments where the proposed development would exceed the catchment’s nutrient budget, unless evidence is presented of robust mitigation plans in place that are demonstrably effective …
Government response. The Government agrees the risks associated with microplastics need to be assessed and effectively mitigated. As noted in response to recommendation 16, alongside other areas of work, the UK water industry funded Chemicals Investigation Programme is improving our understanding of …
17
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The agricultural sector has a responsibility for improving water quality in rivers, just as the water industry and other stakeholders do. The Farming Rules for Water ought to be amended over time so as to reduce phosphorus surpluses in land and water and thereby improve water quality. This must be …
Government response. As part of the Improving Water Company Performance Taskforce, the Environment Agency is currently developing systems to analyse the data generated by Event Duration Monitors (EDMs) and establishing techniques to identify discharges which are likely to breach permit conditions.
18
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
In order to drive down further the excess levels of phosphate and nitrates on agricultural land, annual chemical assessments will be required. Where appropriate, farmers ought to be supported to assess the existing phosphorus and nitrogen status of their land before spreading either farmyard manure or sewage sludge from water …
Government response. The water industry is required, under the Environment Act, to install continuous monitors upstream and downstream of all its sewage discharges. The Environment Agency will supplement this with their ongoing use of continuous water quality monitors to investigate pollution sources …
19
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that the Environment Agency work with DEFRA to intensify its work in the inspection and, where necessary, remediation of large animal slurry stores. Where remediation is required, funding from the Slurry Investment Fund should be made available to support the work.
Government response. The Government does not accept this recommendation. The Environment Act requires notification of spills occurring within 1 hour of the discharge (141DA) and continuous monitoring of the environment (141DB). Measurement of volume is limited by technical feasibility and cost, and …
20
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The sewage sludge currently spread on agricultural land contains microplastics which have been caught in the wastewater treatment process. It may also contain e-coli, antibiotics, biocides, persistent chemical pollutants and pharmaceuticals. This practice appears to be the principal means of disposal of biosolids from such processes. If it is to …
Government response. The Government is currently exploring the best way to make data generated by the Environment Act duties available to the public. The annual summary returns of spills as required from the Environment Act 2021 (141C & 141D) provide the high-level …
21
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that the water industry work urgently with the Environment Agency and the farming sector to assess and mitigate the clear risk of microplastic pollution from this practice, and to develop a comprehensive plan for the separation of microplastics from biosolids at wastewater treatment works. (Paragraph 129) Sewage pollution
Government response. Ofwat welcome the committee’s recommendation and want to see serious pollution incidents reduced to zero by 2030. Serious pollution incidents are not acceptable, and to do so. The Government’s revised Strategic Policy Statement for Ofwat includes an expectation for Ofwat …
22
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The public are rightly shocked when they discover that untreated or partially treated sewage is regularly dumped into rivers and streams in England. We have heard that the rainwater washing into storm sewers can contain microplastics, industrial chemicals and hydrocarbons. It will then mix with human waste from homes and …
Government response. The Government agrees with this recommendation. The Environment Agency already records storm overflows operating in dry weather as pollution incidents.
23
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We therefore found the claim made by the chief executive of Severn Trent that its sewer overflow discharges were ‘pretty much already rainwater’ to be disingenuous. As water companies do not routinely test the quality of the discharges from storm overflows, they are in no position to make this claim. …
Government response. The Government agrees with this recommendation. The Environment Agency is currently reviewing its practices in the auditing of self-monitoring of wastewater treatment works by water companies through the Improving Water Company Performance Taskforce. The March. The work will continue throughout …
24
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Independent analysis of publicly available monitoring data, using machine learning techniques, has produced insights into the performance of the sewerage network which appears to have been beyond the current capacity of the Environment Agency to achieve, let alone water companies. The Environment Agency must improve its capacity to handle the …
Government response. The independent Sentencing Council will consider the recommendation in due course. Any changes to sentencing guidelines would be subject to public consultation.
25
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that the Environment Agency either develop the in-house capacity or tender for external assistance necessary for the analysis of the volume of data generated by EDMs and for the establishment of techniques to identify discharges which are likely to breach permit conditions.
Government response. environmental performance and penalises companies when they fall short. This should be reflected in the returns to investors and in performance related pay incentives applicable to senior executives. As part of the 2019 price review, Ofwat set out its expectation …
26
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The technology for continuous monitoring of water quality is evolving rapidly. We recommend that the Environment Agency invite manufacturers to submit products for evaluation so that the Agency can rapidly introduce cost-efficient and effective sensors at an increased number of locations.
Government response. . Ofwat continue to prioritise long-term investment by focusing their regulatory approach to support long term customer and environmental outcomes. Alongside investment, it will be important for the water industry to innovate, make use of nature-based solutions, and work collaboratively. …
27
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We note with concern the evidence we have received which suggests that Environment Agency sampling practice at wastewater treatment works may not adequately take into account regular variations in the composition of effluent. (Paragraph 171) Water quality in rivers 123
Government response. In the Strategic Policy Statement for Ofwat, the Government has made clear its expectation that Ofwat will support an increase in the use of nature-based solutions where appropriate and act in the interests of the environment and customers. recommendation to …
28
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We welcome the statutory provisions in the Environment Act 2021 to monitor water quality upstream and downstream of sewer outflows, and for annual reporting on storm overflow discharges. We also welcome the requirement for water companies to report on the volume where information is available, but we regret that there …
Government response. The Government agrees with this recommendation. Ofwat is legally accountable to Parliament and therefore the Government accepts that the committee can invite the regulator to discuss progress against the Strategic Policy Statement.
29
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that water companies take immediate steps to install volume monitors at all points where overflows may discharge from their sewerage networks, so as to provide continuous real-time monitoring of the volume of discharges consistent with the provisions of the Environment Act 2021. Drainage and sewerage management plans should …
Government response. significant capital works and where elimination may be the correct approach, while accepting cost limitations to replicating this approach at every overflow. It will also examine the main options for reducing pressures on existing infrastructure as part of the overall …
30
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We were dismayed to learn that some water companies have been slow to respond to formal requests by campaigners and citizen scientists under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 to secure information about EDM use and permit conditions on the sewerage network. Given the overwhelming public concern about water quality in …
Government response. The Government welcomes this recommendation. The Strategic Policy Statement makes clear that the current number of discharges is unacceptable and water companies must significantly reduce the discharge of sewage from storm overflows. The outcomes we expect water companies to meet …
31
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The statutory requirements on monitoring and transparency introduced by the Environment Act 2021 establish a welcome baseline. There is nevertheless scope to improve the nature of data which water companies collect about the operation of their sewerage networks, and to make it available to regulators and to the public. We …
Government response. Fats, oils and grease should be recycled, or disposed of, in adherence to guidance from the relevant local authority or waste collection company. As part of reforms to improve recycling consistency and roll out universal separate food waste collections in …
32
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The water industry has failed to achieve the target, set by the Environment Agency, of a 50% reduction in serious pollution incidents from their 2012 level by 2020. This is not an acceptable position.
Government response. when incorrectly flushed away. As a result, we launched a call for evidence on problematic plastic items, which included questions exploring options to tackle the issues caused by wet wipes. The call for evidence closed on 12th February and we …
33
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that Ofwat require water companies, as a condition of their continued licensing, to deliver year-on-year reductions in the number of pollution incidents, with a target of zero serious incidents by 2030.
Government response. In line with the Resources and Waste Strategy, the Government is committed to reviewing and consulting on Extended Producer Responsibility schemes for five important waste streams, including tyres, by 2025. The scope of the review on tyres is still to …
34
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We nevertheless welcome the reductions in serious pollution incidents which water companies have achieved and which the Environment Agency has acknowledged.
Government response. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) co-design the targets with ‘Textiles 2030’ members. The Microfibre Consortium is a signatory to the initiative and WRAP are working with them on the Textiles 2030 Roadmap to better understand the microfibre issue. …
35
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We note that the Environment Agency does not consider any use of storm overflows to be a pollution incident: discharges from overflows are classed as permitted discharges as long as they comply with the terms of the relevant permit. This is unlikely to incentivise overall reductions in discharges. We recommend …
Government response. The Department for Transport and National Highways agree that a level of increased ambition and delivery in this area should be supported and we will examine the feasibility of using existing funds in the current road period (2020–2025) to support …
36
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Public confidence in the regulatory structures currently in force is understandably low. It is vital that the public can trust regulators to ensure that high levels of water quality in rivers are achieved and maintained.
Government response. The Department for Transport and National Highways agree that the mitigation of high risk outfalls will support Government objectives to halt species decline. National Highways take a risk based approach to management of highways outfalls which prioritises resources and action …
37
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We have identified multiple potential points of failure in the regulatory arrangements for monitoring, governance and enforcement of water quality. The Southern Water case has given rise to obvious and urgent questions about the system of operator self- monitoring and Environment Agency compliance monitoring. Given the duration of time when …
Government response. The Government does not agree that permitting is normally an appropriate risk management response for highway drains. The systems that are put in place to mitigate highway drains are passive treatment systems, with the precise form and the maintenance required …
38
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We welcome the investigation recently launched by the Environment Agency and Ofwat into permit compliance at sewage treatment works, following evidence presented to us indicating that the numbers of permit breaches may be far higher than disclosed by water companies under self-reporting arrangements. We look forward to examining the findings …
Government response. The Government is currently conducting a review which covers these points, to inform a consultation in due course.
39
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that the Environment Agency urgently review its practices in auditing the self-monitoring of wastewater treatment works by water companies. The Agency should also review its approach to enforcement and seek to reduce the interval between detection of permit breaches and prosecution.
Government response. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) already makes clear that major developments should incorporate sustainable drainage systems, unless there is clear evidence that this would be inappropriate. The NPPF further specifies that development should only be allowed in areas at …
40
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We further recommend that, in the interests of promoting public confidence in the criminal justice system and reducing the likelihood of reoffending, the Sentencing Council review the sentencing guidelines for water pollution offences. In our view, penalties for such offences should be set at a level that will ensure that …
Government response. The Government is currently undertaking a review of whether to implement Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water management Act 2010. This Schedule introduces mandatory standards for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of new SuDS. The current non-statutory standards …
41
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that Ofwat examine the scope of its existing powers in respect of water company remuneration, with a view to limiting the awards of significant annual bonuses to water company senior executives in the event of major or persistent breaches in permit conditions.
Government response. The Government is currently undertaking a review of whether to implement Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water management Act 2010. This Schedule introduces that all types of construction work with drainage implications must be approved by the approving body …
42
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
It is clear that there are no quick fixes to decades of under-investment in the sewerage network in England. Successive administrations, water companies and regulators have grown complacent and have sometimes appeared resigned to maintaining the antiquated practice of dumping sewage in rivers.
Government response. The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) is an independent statutory environmental body that holds Government and public authorities to account for their implementation of environmental law. Within the framework of the Environment Act 2021, the OEP will make decisions independently …
43
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Ofwat’s regulatory approach to date appears to have placed insufficient emphasis on facilitating the investment necessary to ensure that the sewerage system in England is fit for the challenges of the 21st century, and able to cope with housing growth and the impact of climate change while restoring good ecological …
Government response. Government supports the use of natural capital in decision making, as set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan. We accept that Ofwat should take natural capital into account in economic decision making. Natural capital was included in the 2017 …
44
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The Secretary of State has the opportunity to set strategic direction for Ofwat. Now is the time for the Government to act in encouraging Ofwat to increase materially the proportion of each company’s capital investment devoted to improving water quality.
Government response. . decision making. Ofwat will strive to reflect a natural capital approach in their decision making for the next Price Review (PR24). Water companies will need to provide high quality data to make this approach work. Most environmental improvements for …
45
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that Ofwat prioritise the long-term investment in wastewater assets as an essential outcome of its price review process. We further recommend that Ofwat incentivise the use of nature-based solutions in wastewater management, including ongoing funding for maintenance and operation.
Government response. Response provided at paragraph 26
46
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We intend to invite the regulator to appear before this Committee routinely to discuss Ofwat’s progress against the objectives of the new Strategic Policy Statement for the regulator which is shortly to be published by Ministers.
Government response. Through the Comprehensive Spending Review in November 2021 and subsequent budget determination process, Defra has reviewed the Environment Agency’s Grant-in-Aid water quality budget. The department has made significant increases to the Environment Agency’s budget for inspections and enforcement of the …
47
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The Government acknowledges that reductions in discharges from the sewerage network will require significant investment across the water estate. The price estimate made by the Storm Overflows Taskforce of the cost of full separation of the entire sewerage network should be carefully scrutinised by the Government as it produces its …
Government response. Defra and HM Treasury are engaging in discussions in 2022 about reviewing the Environment Agency’s ability to recover costs through charges for permits and related activities.
48
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
There is nevertheless no reason not to seek rapid and sustained action towards achieving the Act’s requirement for progressive reductions in discharges, through incorporating capital projects into a whole-systems approach which seeks to reduce the overall pressures being placed on aging infrastructure. The Thames Tideway demonstrates that substantial capital projects …
Government response. Through the Comprehensive Spending Review in November 2021 and subsequent budget determination process, Defra has reviewed the Environment Agency’s Grant-in-Aid water quality budget. Defra has maintained Grant-in-Aid funding for catchment partnerships and will continue to evaluate funding sources to enable …
49
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We welcome the duty which the Environment Act 2021 places on water companies in England to secure a progressive reduction in the adverse impact of discharges from their storm overflows. This is a positive first step towards cleaning up the sewage discharges blighting rivers in England.
Government response. The Government agrees with the intention behind this recommendation and ensuring action is both collective, targeted and proportionate across catchments to address the range of pressures. Much of the detailed information and tools required are already available. There is information …
50
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that Ministers and the Environment Agency should set challenging improvement targets and timetables for this progressive reduction to inform the drainage and sewage management plans to be drawn up by each water company. The first round of these plans should clearly indicate significant ambition, by setting a stretching …
Government response. The Government agrees with the recommendation that incentivising and providing support for progressive action, such as through existing and future agri-environment schemes, is required to improve the condition of our water bodies. The Government has already committed to prioritise water …
51
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Fats, oils and greases and cleaning and hygiene products containing plastic are causing huge problems for drainage systems when they are poured away in sinks or flushed down the toilet. The disposal of FOG by takeaways and other food service establishments is currently unregulated. Grease management solutions exist, but awareness …
Government response. We agree that citizen science can play an important role, including in assisting the Environment Agency with monitoring, particularly through Catchment Partnerships. drive a move towards the design of new indicators for catchment condition. This is already happening through the …
52
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The water and grease management industry must develop standards for the sectors which use FOG routinely to collect and dispose of such responsibly without it entering the drainage network. We further recommend that Ministers work with the water industry to consider whether fats, oils and greases should be classed as …
Government response. The Government welcomes the focus on citizen science and CaBA partnership monitoring. We encourage water companies to engage with CaBA partnerships and in some cases water companies support partnerships through funding. Even where this is not the case, we would …
53
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Wet wipes and other ‘unflushables’ are a major constituent of sewer blockages. Many householders are unaware that flushing anything other than the ‘3Ps’ (‘pee, poo and paper’) risks blocking sewers and could lead to a pollution incident. Better product labelling, introducing producer responsibility schemes and the use of behavioural science …
Government response. The Guiding Principles for Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans, published in February 2022, require water companies to work collaboratively with other Risk Management Authorities in developing solutions to drainage issues.
54
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The use of plastic in single use sanitary products should be prohibited, with exemptions only provided for medical requirements. We urge the Government to adopt the measures outlined in the Plastics (Wet Wipes) Bill to prohibit the manufacture and sale of single use cleaning and hygiene products containing plastic. The …
Government response. . In 2020 the Government reviewed and made changes to partnership funding rules for flood grant in aid, promoting more nature-based solutions and surface water schemes such as sustainable drainage systems. The Government keeps its flood management policy and funding …
55
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Tyre, motor vehicle and fashion manufacturers, among many others, must take greater responsibility for the contribution their products make to microplastic pollution in waterways. We recommend that Ministers examine how the proposed Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for tyre manufacturers could contribute to the swifter implementation of mitigation measures across the …
Government response. . proposals (including the retrofit of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)) when they are submitted in company business plans. Companies are encouraged to put forward retrofit proposals for SuDS where evidence indicates they are the best solution. As part of the …
56
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Highways authorities at the national and local level must place a greater priority on preventing pollution from the strategic road network and from major roads maintained by local authorities in England. Solutions are available. These need to be rolled out as rapidly as possible.
Government response. The Department for Transport and National Highways agree that a level of increased ambition and delivery in this area should be supported and we will examine the feasibility of using existing funds in the current road period (2020–2025) to support …
57
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
National Highways mitigated risks of pollution from 23 drainage points in 2020/21. At this rate it will take over 55 years to address the 1,326 outfalls and soakaways it has identified as high risk, not to mention the thousands of other potentially polluting drains on the strategic road network. This …
Government response. The Department for Transport and National Highways agree that a level of increased ambition and delivery in this area should be supported and we will examine the feasibility of using existing funds in the current road period (2020–2025) to support …
58
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that National Highways accelerate its programme of installation of improvements to highways drainage in England, particularly at the 1,326 outfalls and soakaways considered to be high risk, to capture and filter polluting run-off before it enters watercourses and groundwater.
Government response. The Department for Transport and National Highways agree that a level of increased ambition and delivery in this area should be supported and we will examine the feasibility of using existing funds in the current road period (2020–2025) to support …
59
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that National Highways devote a greater proportion of its environmental budget to the mitigation of outfalls and set a target of eliminating pollution from those outfalls most at risk by 2030, in line with the Government’s commitments to halt species decline. It should set out, by the end …
Government response. The Department for Transport and National Highways agree that the mitigation of high risk outfalls will support Government objectives to halt species decline. National Highways take a risk based approach to management of highways outfalls which prioritises resources and action …
60
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We are disappointed by the apparent lack of regulatory oversight of the risks of water pollution from road run-off. We therefore recommend that the Environment Agency require discharge permits for all outfalls on roads with annual average daily traffic above 15,000 vehicles, establishing strict conditions for their management, so as …
Government response. The Government does not agree that permitting is normally an appropriate risk management response for highway drains. The systems that are put in place to mitigate highway drains are passive treatment systems, with the precise form and the maintenance required …
61
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We welcome the announcement that Ministers are to review whether Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 is to be implemented in England. Implementation would end the current automatic right to connect to sewerage systems, and mitigate the accompanying risks of overloading sewer capacity.
Government response. The Government is currently conducting a review which covers these points, to inform a consultation in due course.
62
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that the review consider the optimum arrangements for maintenance and adoption of sustainable drainage systems, and that it should propose an end to the automatic right to connect to the sewer in new developments as soon as possible and by the end of 2023 at the latest.
Government response. The Government is currently conducting a review which covers these points, to inform a consultation in due course.
63
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We further recommend that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities update its planning practice guidance on sustainable drainage to ensure that sustainable drainage schemes are considered in all developments, including improvements under permitted development rights, and that it takes steps to address existing loopholes concerning the cost and …
Government response. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) already makes clear that major developments should incorporate sustainable drainage systems, unless there is clear evidence that this would be inappropriate. The NPPF further specifies that development should only be allowed in areas at …
64
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We further recommend that Non-Statutory SuDS Standards should be improved, taking into account the findings of the DEFRA review, so as to include water quality alongside other wider benefits, and should be made mandatory.
Government response. The Government is currently undertaking a review of whether to implement Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water management Act 2010. This Schedule introduces mandatory standards for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of new SuDS. The current non-statutory standards …
65
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
New housing developments must be used to set the standard for the sustainable sewerage networks required in the 21st century. It is unacceptable for developers to increase the pressure on overloaded combined sewerage systems and not to contribute to improvements. We recommend that, in the process of approval of any …
Government response. The Government is currently undertaking a review of whether to implement Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water management Act 2010. This Schedule introduces that all types of construction work with drainage implications must be approved by the approving body …
66
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The new Office for Environmental Protection, established under the Environment Act 2021, is empowered to make highly significant contributions to the achievement 128 Water quality in rivers of the Government’s environmental objectives in general, and to the improvement of water quality in rivers in particular. We encourage the Office for …
Government response. The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) is an independent statutory environmental body that holds Government and public authorities to account for their implementation of environmental law. Within the framework of the Environment Act 2021, the OEP will make decisions independently …
67
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
In the Committee’s recent report on biodiversity in the UK we argued that action to protect biodiversity needed to be stepped up in scale, ambition, pace, and detail. Our conclusions from this inquiry show that this step change in approach is vital to protect freshwater biodiversity.
Government response. The Government agrees with this recommendation. We know that our historic target to halt the decline in species by 2030 will not be achieved without action to improve water quality and abundance in water-dependent natural habitats. Rivers, lakes, ponds, wetland, …
68
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Changes in regulatory action, cross-catchment collaboration and water company investment are urgently required to restore rivers to good ecological health, protect biodiversity and adapt to a changing climate. We expect to see far more assertive regulation and enforcement from Ofwat and the Environment Agency, with the provision of funding and …
Government response. The Government welcomes the Environmental Audit Committee’s report titled Water Quality in Rivers, published on 13 January 2022. We are grateful to the committee for their conclusions and recommendations, and to those who provided evidence. Restoring water quality is a …
69
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The value of biodiversity in rivers in England does not appear to have been priced adequately into the economic decisions made by companies and by regulatory agencies. If it is to meet the Environment Act’s legally binding target to halt the decline in the abundance of species in England by …
Government response. Government supports the use of natural capital in decision making, as set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan. We accept that Ofwat should take natural capital into account in economic decision making. Natural capital was included in the 2017 …
70
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
The biodiversity crisis requires public agencies, regulators and water companies to adopt new decision-making methodologies. The idea, for instance, that pollution can be tolerated in areas with low ‘amenity value’ belongs to a different era. Pollution of rivers must be addressed wherever it occurs because of the impact of such …
Government response. The Government welcomes the Environmental Audit Committee’s report titled Water Quality in Rivers, published on 13 January 2022. We are grateful to the committee for their conclusions and recommendations, and to those who provided evidence. Restoring water quality is a …
71
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Ofwat’s economic regulation of the sector through previous price reviews does not appear to have given sufficient priority to the preservation of natural capital. We recommend that, when it publishes its review methodology in 2022, Ofwat set out how it intends to reflect natural capital fully in its economic regulatory …
Government response. Ofwat agree that wherever possible a natural capital approach should be used in economic decision making. Ofwat will strive to reflect a natural capital approach in their decision making for the next Price Review (PR24). Water companies will need to …
72
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Delivering the step change in action on water quality that is demanded will require DEFRA to set a strong strategic direction and clear targets. Regulators must be empowered and funded adequately to implement and enforce the relevant provisions of the amended Water Industry Act and the new Environment Act. We …
Government response. Through the Comprehensive Spending Review in November 2021 and subsequent budget determination process, Defra has reviewed the Environment Agency’s Grant-in-Aid water quality budget. The department has made significant increases to the Environment Agency’s budget for inspections and enforcement of the …
73
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
We recommend that the level of financial support provided to the Environment Agency be reviewed as a matter of urgency in the light of its new statutory responsibilities and the scale of the regulatory task it faces, recognising its continued need for efficiency. Water quality in rivers 129 We further …
Government response. Through the Comprehensive Spending Review in November 2021 and subsequent budget determination process, Defra has reviewed the Environment Agency’s Grant-in-Aid water quality budget. The department has made significant increases to the Environment Agency’s budget for inspections and enforcement of the …
74
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Responsibility for improving water quality in rivers cannot be laid solely at the door of the water industry. The project to restore all rivers in England to good health will require the engagement and collaboration of a wide range of stakeholders—from farmers to local authorities, and from product manufacturers to …
Government response. The Government welcomes the Environmental Audit Committee’s report titled Water Quality in Rivers, published on 13 January 2022. We are grateful to the committee for their conclusions and recommendations, and to those who provided evidence. Restoring water quality is a …
75
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Local authorities have a key role to play in restoring rivers to good ecological status across the country. Their engagement in Catchment Based Approach partnerships is crucial, while their work on Local Nature Recovery Strategies must engage with the development of drainage and sewerage management plans. It is essential that …
Government response. The Government agrees with the intention behind this recommendation and ensuring action is both collective, targeted and proportionate across catchments to address the range of pressures. Much of the detailed information and tools required are already available. There is information …
76
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Pollution across river catchments must be progressively reduced from all sources in the catchment until it does not exceed the capacity of the land and the rivers to handle the nutrients. We therefore recommend that DEFRA direct the Environment Agency and Natural England to calculate nutrient budgets for each river …
Government response. The Government agrees with the recommendation that incentivising and providing support for progressive action, such as through existing and future agri-environment schemes, is required to improve the condition of our water bodies. The Government has already committed to prioritise water …
77
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Adequate support needs to be made available for farmers to achieve progressive reductions in those nutrient inputs which risk negatively affecting water quality in a catchment, or to mitigate the risk. We recommend that DEFRA examine how the Environmental Land Management scheme can best be used to achieve this outcome.
Government response. The Government agrees with the recommendation that incentivising and providing support for progressive action, such as through existing and future agri-environment schemes, is required to improve the condition of our water bodies. The Government has already committed to prioritise water …
78
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Policymakers across Government should aim to cultivate a culture of water citizenship to foster greater awareness and change behaviour that risks causing blockages in the sewer network and increasing levels of water pollution. Awareness of what should not be disposed of down toilets and drains appears to be low. Many …
Government response. We agree that citizen science can play an important role, including in assisting the Environment Agency with monitoring, particularly through Catchment Partnerships. Citizen science builds local awareness beyond that of specialist water managers and can drive a move towards the …
79
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Citizen science should not be seen as an alternative to adequately funded environmental monitoring by regulators but it should be encouraged and recognised. We recommend that the Environment Agency explore how best to support the contribution of citizen science to environmental regulation and to incorporate citizen science analysis in its …
Government response. The Government welcomes the focus on citizen science and CaBA partnership monitoring. We encourage water companies to engage with CaBA partnerships and in some cases water companies support partnerships through funding. Even where this is not the case, we would …
80
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
It is important that communities who engage in citizen science receive a meaningful response to their work. We recommend that the Government consider whether a requirement should be placed on water companies to respond to citizen science research undertaken by CaBA partnerships, where that research demonstrates water quality issues in …
Government response. The Guiding Principles for Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans, published in February 2022, require water companies to work collaboratively with other Risk Management Authorities in developing solutions to drainage issues.
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Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Drainage and sewerage management plans, as currently conceived, appear to be the preserve of the water industry. For these plans to be successful they must be designed so as to ensure active and continued engagement with the full range of stakeholders, including local authorities, highways agencies and developers. These plans …
Government response. In 2020 the Government reviewed and made changes to partnership funding rules for flood grant in aid, promoting more nature-based solutions and surface water schemes such as sustainable drainage systems. The Government keeps its flood management policy and funding rules …
82
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Retrofitting urban areas with sustainable drainage systems can deliver multiple benefits in terms of nature recovery, air quality and flooding prevention. We recommend that Ministers review and, where appropriate, revise the criteria for the award of funds intended for flooding prevention and nature recovery so as to ensure that they …
Government response. In 2020 the Government reviewed and made changes to partnership funding rules for flood grant in aid, promoting more nature-based solutions and surface water schemes such as sustainable drainage systems. The Government keeps its flood management policy and funding rules …