EA proposes flexibility for WINEP

The Environment Agency has proposed allowing water companies up to 25 years to deliver on environmental programmes and extending the timeframe for the Water Industry National Environmental Programme (WINEP) from five to ten years.

The revised WINEP, which is now open to consultation, will give water firms longer to deliver on catchment and nature-based solutions beyond AMP cycles.

WINEP is the programme of work water companies must do to fulfil their obligations in environmental legislation and UK government policy as set out in Water Industry Strategic Environmental Requirements (WISER). This is the first time the EA has set out the methodology in one place for design, development and delivery of WINEP.

It proposes a shift in focus from output to outcomes, flexible planning, promotion of catchment and nature-based solutions and encouraging partnerships for shared outcomes.

Environmental measures proposed by water companies will have up to a 25-year scope for delivery, with five-yearly updates required to allow for improvements in technology or new information to be incorporated. Ofwat will consider whether and how to amend its price controls approach to ensure companies are not dis-incentivised by cost from taking a nature-based approach.

Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the EA, noted the expertise the sector has in nature-based solutions, engineering and raising finance. She urged companies to “move further and faster” to improve river health.

“Now is the time for innovation and ambition to deliver a low carbon high quality water environment that promotes nature,” Howard Boyd said. “Ultimately the country will get the environment it is prepared to pay for. We want water companies to use the new WINEP to test themselves and ensure they are delivering clean and plentiful water in a nature positive future.”

The draft document outlines that companies will be expected to deliver wider environmental outcomes beyond statutory duties. The EA said these could include habitat restoration and sustainable water management. It wants to encourage more flexibility and efficiency in how improvements are delivered.

As with the draft update of the Strategic Policy Statement (SPS) for Ofwat, which was also published today, WINEP will prioritise the use of catchment and nature-based solutions where they offer a lower carbon option and multiple benefits, such as wetlands for water treatment.

Partnerships with other catchment users, such as landowners, local authorities and environmental groups are encouraged where benefits and outcomes are shared. The EA said co-design, co-delivery and co-funding of schemes will be supported through the revised WINEP.

Companies will be invited to have more input in developing the WINEP together with the EA, Natural England and regional stakeholder groups.

Ofwat’s interim chief executive David Black said: “Given the significant challenges we face as a sector and as society, including on river quality, net zero, biodiversity and flood resilience, we need to ensure the WINEP evolves to best meet these challenges. We must be ambitious and flexible in our approach, focusing on the outcomes we want to see and achieving the greatest value for every pound invested. We want to facilitate greater use of nature-based solutions, as well as more collaborative and partnership working to help us deliver on shared ambitions.

“In that spirit, I encourage all interested parties to pitch in their views at this consultation stage to help us shape the programme so it delivers maximum benefit for society and the environment.”

WINEP supersedes the National Environment Programme (NEP), which had been the main mechanism for improving the state of the water environment since 1995.

The final methodology will be published in the autumn following the consultation period, which runs to September.