Recommendations & Conclusions
22 items
5
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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.
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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.
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Government response AI summary
The government states they recognise the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and are already working to expand their evidence base and understanding via the £19m Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, Food and the Environment project and engagement with the water companies’ Chemicals Investigation Programme.
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6
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 be a priority for the Environment Agency. Pollution levels in these rivers must be reduced as a matter of urgency. (Paragraph 43) Rivers fit to swim in
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Government response AI summary
The government states that anyone can apply for a new bathing water designation and the Government then considers those applications, and that it encourages applications annually and is actively exploring ways to make the application process more accessible.
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9
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 that they are fit for bathing. This progress must now be extended to rivers. We welcome the efforts made by those water companies that are already working towards designation of river stretches.
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Government response AI summary
The government outlines ongoing and planned actions through environmental land management schemes and an expanded Catchment Sensitive Farming partnership to incentivise farmers to reduce agricultural pollution and improve water quality, particularly in areas draining into bathing waters.
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14
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 appears to be finding its way into river waters. The potential impact of intensive agricultural practices on river water quality must be fully acknowledged and the risks mitigated. One means of doing this is through farming which is as sensitive as possible to its effect on water quality in catchments.
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Government response AI summary
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. Funding is currently offered for separation, scraping and precision-spreading techniques, enabling farmers to start making upgrades and improvements …
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15
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 by local authorities and planning authorities to inform decisions on new housing developments and intensive livestock units, taking into account the cumulative impact of such developments on river catchments.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that work is already underway to improve understanding of emerging risks of sewage, citing microplastics studies and the Chemical Investigations Programme, and that they are working with the Environment Agency on policies for safe and sustainable sludge use.
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22
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 businesses containing harmful bacteria. In some cases, the only ‘treatment’ that such discharges will have received will have been to pass through a mesh grill.
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Government response AI summary
The Environment Agency already records storm overflows operating in dry weather as pollution incidents.
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23
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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. …
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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. Discharges from overflows can be highly contaminated with raw sewage and other pollutants. To claim otherwise shows a disregard for the public’s concern about water quality in rivers.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees and states that the Environment Agency is reviewing its practices in the auditing of self-monitoring of wastewater treatment works by water companies through the Improving Water Company Performance Taskforce.
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39
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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.
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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.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the National Planning Policy Framework already makes clear that major developments should incorporate sustainable drainage systems and that they will ensure that the Planning Practice Guidance reflects the position on the use of porous or permeable surfaces and prior approval requirement …
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43
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 health to rivers. Investment must be accelerated so that damaging discharges from wastewater treatment assets, including storm overflows, cease and that any spills occur only in genuinely exceptional circumstances. (Paragraph 232) Water quality in rivers 125
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Government response AI summary
Government supports the use of natural capital in decision making and accepts that Ofwat should take natural capital into account in economic decision making, noting that it is already part of water company planning processes.
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48
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 can be secured without unaffordable bill increases. We recommend that Ministers publish their assessment of every possible option to reduce system pressures on existing infrastructure, while also examining the case for significant capital works, when preparing the statutory report on elimination of storm overflows due by September 2022.
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Government response AI summary
Defra has maintained Grant-in-Aid funding for catchment partnerships and will continue to evaluate funding sources to enable coordination of all stakeholders across river catchments. The government highlights existing funding for catchment partnerships and their success in attracting additional funding.
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49
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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.
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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.
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Government response AI summary
The Government states that much of the detailed information and tools required are already available nationally and at a catchment level, and that they are working with Local Planning Authorities to help them calculate nutrient budgets and identify nutrient mitigation.
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50
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 timetable for progressive reductions in the use of overflows. (Paragraph 243) Surface drainage and urban pollution
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Government response AI summary
The Government states that it has already committed to prioritize water quality in the new environmental land management schemes, citing the Secretary of State's statement in December 2021 and ongoing work with Natural England and the Environment Agency.
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53
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 by water companies all have the potential to reduce blockages and the costs of clearing them.
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Government response AI summary
The government indicates this is already being addressed through the Guiding Principles for Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans, published in February 2022, which require water companies to work collaboratively with other Risk Management Authorities in developing solutions to drainage issues.
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54
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 should further incentivise the reduction of waste and recoup costs by using new powers in the Environment Act to extend Extended Producer Responsibility schemes to cover single use cleaning and hygiene products that cause blockages.
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Government response AI summary
The government claims to already support the use of blue green infrastructure, such as sustainable drainage systems and grey water recycling, and cites existing flood defence schemes and funding for nature-based solutions.
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55
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 road network. We repeat our call for the Textiles 2030 scheme to incorporate the reduction of microplastic pollution in its targets.
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Government response AI summary
The government claims Ofwat encourages companies to put forward retrofit proposals for SuDS and is looking at how they can provide incentives for SuDS to encourage the extra benefits that they provide.
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63
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 practicality of such schemes.
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Government response AI summary
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.
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71
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 decisions for Price Review 24. PR24 must encourage water companies to make a substantial increase in their investment in nature-based solutions, so as to improve the quality of effluent being discharged from sewage treatment plants.
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Government response AI summary
Ofwat agrees to fully reflect a natural capital approach in PR24, outlining how it will strive to integrate it into WINEP proposals and introduce other metrics like biodiversity performance commitments, working with the Environment Agency and Defra.
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72
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 note that in 2020 the annual grant support from central government to the Environment Agency was £80 million less than the funding provided in 2009.
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Government response AI summary
Defra has increased the Environment Agency's budget for inspections and enforcement of the farming sector and water companies, inspections and increased funding to enable the Environment Agency to modernise and digitise their water quality monitoring system.
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77
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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.
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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.
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Government response AI summary
The Government agrees and has committed to prioritise water quality in the delivery of the new environmental land management schemes, for example, the Sustainable Farming Incentive will focus on actions to reduce nutrient leaching and protect soils.
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80
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 a specific area, with an action plan to address the issues identified.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that its Guiding Principles for Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans, published in February 2022, already require water companies to work collaboratively with other Risk Management Authorities in developing solutions to drainage issues.
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81
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 must be backed up by measures to prohibit use of the products and chemicals at greatest risk of blocking drainage systems and degrading water quality.
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Government response AI summary
The government reviewed and made changes to partnership funding rules for flood grant in aid in 2020, promoting more nature-based solutions and surface water schemes such as sustainable drainage systems. Through drainage and wastewater management plans they expect sewerage companies to fully assess wastewater network …
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82
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers
Accepted
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 …
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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 support projects to retrofit sustainable drainage systems. We further recommend that, through its price review process and asset management plans, Ofwat allow adequate funding for water companies to identify areas for the retrofit of sustainable drainage systems. (Paragraph 378) Water quality in rivers 131
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Government response AI summary
The government states it already reviewed and made changes to partnership funding rules for flood grant in aid, promoting nature-based solutions and surface water schemes. They expect sewerage companies to assess wastewater network capacity and develop collaborative solutions with local authorities to manage climate change …
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