Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 37
37
Rejected
Paragraph: 203
We have identified multiple potential points of failure in the regulatory arrangements for monitoring, governance...
Conclusion
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 misreporting and large spills were routine at Southern Water, we cannot discount the possibility that similar practices have been occurring undetected at other water companies in England.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government does not agree that permitting is an appropriate response for highway drains, stating it would add an unjustified regulatory and resource burden, but will keep the need for different approaches under review.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
203
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government · verbatim extract
Rejected
Since 2015 the Environment Agency has brought 48 prosecutions against water companies, securing fines of over £137 million. Some of the biggest fines were imposed last year – including a record £90 million fine for Southern Water in July for thousands of illegal discharges – making clear that polluters will be made to pay for damage to the environment.
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