News

At last the Water Bill is introduced to parliament

Author: Graham Mann, Water Audit Expert.

Government is at last pursuing an agenda for a substantial customer focused water sector, as well as delivering marked improvements in the health of our water ways and tackling unsustainable abstraction.

The water bill takes into account those areas where legislative change is needed by reforming the water industry in order to push forward growth and give businesses even more choice and flexibility whilst protecting the environment.

It appears following public consultation DEFRA have included measures to deal with affordability and indeed availability of flood insurance as this has become a serious problem for many homes and businesses.

The water bill measures include: –

* Establishing a cross border market with Scotland and thus enabling more businesses to switch water supplier.

* Helping to better join up the national water supply network.

* Making it easier for developers and inset appointees to connect new developments to the water mains and sewerage systems.

It will also: –

* Transfer responsibility for maintaining main river maps to the environment agency and the natural resources body for Wales.

* Take action to prevent unsustainable abstraction by changing the way water company schemes to restore sustainable abstraction are funded.

* Encourage the use of sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) by clarifying that building and maintenance of SUDS can be a function of sewerage undertakers.