Water Quality in Rivers
Environmental Audit Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) is holding an inquiry into water quality in rivers. The EAC has previously inquired into nitrate pollution so this inquiry intends to focus on the water industry and urban diffuse pollution. For more information about this inquiry read the call for evidence . Read the …
Read more
51
Recommendations
31
Conclusions
1
Report
6
Oral sessions
15
Letters
6
Events
Activity timeline 23 events
23 Oct
2023
2023
22 Sep
2022
2022
16 May
2022
2022
13 Jan
2022
2022
Report published
6 Jan
2022
2022
6 Jan
2022
2022
25 Nov
2021
2021
25 Nov
2021
2021
4 Nov
2021
2021
4 Nov
2021
2021
26 Oct
2021
2021
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
13 Oct 2021
View on parliament.uk
Heidi Mottram CBE · Northumbrian Water
Ian McAulay · Southern Water
Liv Garfield · Severn Trent Water
Sarah Bentley · Thames Water
Susan Davy · South West Water
15 Sep 2021
View on parliament.uk
Panel 1; Panel 2
Kirstin Green · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Rebecca Pow · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Richard Bramley · National Farmers Union (NFU)
Simon Gallagher · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Susan Twining · CLA (Country Land and Business Association)
23 Jun 2021
View on parliament.uk
Panel 1
David Black · Ofwat
Nick Harris · National Highways
Sir James Bevan · Environment Agency
26 May 2021
View on parliament.uk
Panel 1; Panel 2
Alastair Chisholm · Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management
Bronwyn Buntine · Kent Council
Daniel Johns · Anglian Water Services Ltd
Ian Titherington · Cardiff Council
Jo Bradley · Stormwater Shepherds
Lila Thompson · British Water
21 Apr 2021
View on parliament.uk
Panel 1; Panel 2
Feargal Sharkey · Amwell Magna Fishery
Jane Nickerson · Swim England
Mr Ben Seal · British Canoeing
Pete Lloyd · Environment Agency
Professor Peter Hammond · University College London (UCL)
Professor Rebecca Malby · Ilkley Clean River Group
10 Mar 2021
View on parliament.uk
Panel 1; Panel 2
Amy Slack · Surfers against Sewage
Dr Michelle Jackson · Oxford University
Dr Rob Collins · The Rivers Trust
Guy Linley-Adams · Salmon and Trout Conservation
Professor Nigel Watson · Lancaster University
Professor Steve Ormerod · Cardiff University
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers | HC 74 | 13 Jan 2022 | 82 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
59
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Water quality in r…
We recommend that National Highways devote a greater proportion of its environmental budget to the...
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 …
Read more
Government Response
National Highways agrees to set out its plans for how high-risk outfalls could be mitigated by 2030 by the end of the 2022/23 financial year, but cannot commit to performance requirements and funding at this time due to the ongoing development of the 3rd Road Investment Strategy.
69
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Water quality in r…
The value of biodiversity in rivers in England does not appear to have been priced...
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 …
Read more
Government Response
The government supports the use of natural capital in decision making and accepts that Ofwat should take natural capital into account. They state that Natural capital was included in the 2017 Strategic Policy Statement and Ofwat continues to incorporate natural capital into their regulatory framework, and will continue to work towards this approach.
73
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Water quality in r…
We recommend that the level of financial support provided to the Environment Agency be reviewed...
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 …
Read more
Government Response
The government has reviewed the Environment Agency's budget, significantly increasing funding for inspections, enforcement, and monitoring. However, it does not explicitly commit to reviewing the environmental permitting charging scheme provisions to ensure charges accurately reflect costs.
Government Response AI assessment · 82 of 51 classified
Accepted
22
Acknowledged
29
Deferred
11
Rejected
3
Total
51 recs + 31 conclusions
Correspondence 15 letters
23 Oct 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chief Executive of Ofwat regarding their Water Company Performance Report 2022-23, dated 26 September
Parliament page
22 Sep 2022
To committee
Letter from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, dated 26 August 2022
Parliament page
6 Jan 2022
To committee
Letter from the Leader of Chichester District Council, relating to the Water Quality in Rivers inquiry, dated 10 December 2021
Parliament page
6 Jan 2022
To committee
Letter from National Highways, relating to the Water Quality in Rivers inquiry, dated 15 December 2021
Parliament page
25 Nov 2021
To committee
Letter from the Interim Chief Executive of Ofwat, relating to the Water quality in rivers inquiry, dated 18 November 2021
Parliament page
25 Nov 2021
To committee
Letter from the Wastewater Director of Northumbrian Water Limited, relating to the Water quality in rivers inquiry, dated 19 November 2021
Parliament page
4 Nov 2021
To committee
Letter from the Northumbrian Water Chief Executive, relating to the 13 October Water quality in rivers evidence session, dated 22 October 2021
Parliament page
4 Nov 2021
To committee
Letter from the Severn Trent Plc Chief Executive, relating to the 13 October Water quality in rivers evidence session, dated 18 October 2021
Parliament page
26 Oct 2021
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, concerning DEFRA's consultation on the draft Strategic Priority Statement for Ofwat, dated 21 October 2021
Parliament page
14 Oct 2021
To committee
Letter from the Leader of Herefordshire Council, concerning water quality in rivers, dated 5 October 2021
Parliament page
16 Sep 2021
To committee
Letter from the Minister of State for Housing, relating to the Water quality in rivers inquiry, dated 7 September 2021
Parliament page
9 Sep 2021
To committee
Letter from the Environment Agency Chief Executive, relating to the Water quality in rivers inquiry, dated 1 September 2021
Parliament page
9 Sep 2021
To committee
Letter from the Acting CEO of Highways England, relating to the Water quality in rivers inquiry, dated 13 August 2021
Parliament page
9 Sep 2021
To committee
Letter from the Interim Chief Executive of Ofwat, relating to the Water quality in rivers inquiry, dated 1 September 2021
Parliament page
21 Jul 2021
To committee
Letter from the Acting CEO of Highways England, relating to the Water quality in rivers inquiry, dated 12 July
Parliament page