The Environment Agency (EA) has found catchment nutrient balancing (CNB) to be “ineffective and unworkable as a regulatory mechanism”. Ahead of Christmas, it told water companies it was minded to withdraw CNB permitting as a regulatory mechanism for wastewater treatment works discharges – from the start of AMP8.
CNB allows water companies to offset the nutrient (mainly phosphorus) reduction requirements specified in their sewage works permits, by funding farmers to implement catchment measures to cut nutrients instead. It has been trialled in AMP7, with a view to cutting pollution and meeting phosphorus standards at lower financial, carbon and chemical costs, while also providing other benefits, such as for biodiversity.
The EA has reviewed AMP7 evidence to assess the approach’s effectiveness as a regulatory mechanism and its ability to achieve the nutrient standards required by legislation. According to the Agency, CNB fell short on both fronts. Its minded-to decision is based on:
Lack of strong evidence demonstrating a link between CNB measures and water quality improvements to achieve environmental objectives.
Insufficient availability of catchment measures to reduce nutrients sufficiently to meet polluter pays fair share requirements and achieve nutrient standards.
Enforceability concerns regarding third parties.
CNB will not achieve key statutory environmental targets required to protect the environment. “To achieve clean and plentiful water both the water and farming industries need to adopt all the measures they can and clear up their own pollution,” the Agency argued.
Companies have until 17 January to provide comments and responses before a final decision is confirmed ahead of the start of AMP8.
The EA pointed out that ending CNB will not impact other innovative permitting solutions such as catchment permitting, or the use of nature-based solutions.
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