Office for Environmental Protection to investigate regulators over storm overflows

New green regulator, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), has launched an investigation into the roles of Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Defra secretary of state in the regulation of storm overflows.

The OEP said the aims of its investigation are to determine whether these authorities have failed to comply with their respective duties in relation to the regulation, including the monitoring and enforcement of water companies’ own duties to manage sewage. It added that in doing so, it will seek to clarify the respective duties.

The statutory investigation, under section 33 of the Environment Act 202, follows a complaint submitted to the Interim OEP by Salmon & Trout Conservation UK.

Chief regulatory officer, Helen Venn, said: “We clearly do not know at this point what our findings will be or where the investigation will take us. It is possible that it could result in enforcement activity and / or in broader actions to improve the legal and / or regulatory systems. Our priority throughout will be to protect and improve the environment.”

• The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee’s inquiry into the work of Ofwat continued last week, with evidence from green campaigners Salmon & Trout Conservation and the Rivers Trust. The next session will be held on 5 July, with evidence from CCW and former Ofwat board member, Professor Catherine Waddams from the University of East Anglia.