Fourth Report - Water quality in rivers

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.

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.

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.

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 to their slurry systems.

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.

The Environment Agency already records storm overflows operating in dry weather as pollution incidents.

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.

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 in relation to flood risk where relevant.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 capacity and develop collaborative solutions with local authorities and other bodies to manage the challenges of a changing climate and extreme weather events.

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 and extreme weather events, including retrofitting sustainable drainage systems where appropriate.