Government responds to MPs' report on water quality in rivers

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) last week welcomed what chair, Philip Dunne MP, called a “broadly positive” response from Government to its Water quality in rivers inquiry report. The EAC said the government or relevant regulator agreed fully or partially with the majority of the 55 recommendations made in the report (23 fully and 27 partially or neutrally), rejecting only five outright.

Most of the committee recommendations relating to the water sector were endorsed, including improved monitoring and research on water quality and transparency on storm overflows. On enforcement, the committee noted: “Following EAC’s recommendations, the Environment Agency is reviewing how it audits the self-monitoring of wastewater treatment works by water companies.”

However ministers rejected the recommendation to require water companies to install volume monitors to gauge the amount of untreated or partially treated sewage being discharged. They also rejected recommendations around agricultural pollution, citing concerns including that nutrient neutrality policies could stall housebuilding.

Dunne commented: “This is a critical period for transforming human impact on our waterways and I welcome the way in which the government is engaging and seeking to put right the indifference of successive previous administrations. The committee will continue to hold the government, its arms-length bodies and the water companies to account as they implement these plans to improve the water quality in England’s rivers.”