Water UK proposes a Rivers Act

The water sector, coordinated by Water UK, has called for legislation dedicated to restoring and enhancing waterways as part of a single, focused approach to managing rivers in England.

In a new manifesto, the trade body suggested the formation of a national steering group to design the new legal basis to “fix the loopholes” in current legislation as well as ensuring nature-based solutions can be delivered.

Water UK said it is crucial to involve other industries that are responsible for harm to waterways to join in a national effort to tackle sources of pollution.

The report set out 10 recommendations to restore the health of rivers that includes taking prompt action on abstraction, storm overflows and bathing waters.

It identified the contributors to pollution in waterbodies as coming from agriculture and rural management (36 per cent), the water industry (24 per cent), urban development and transport (11 per cent), and other sources including industry, mining, government (29 per cent).

The manifesto proposed a collaborative effort to create a plan to eliminate the harm caused by combined sewer overflows (CSOs) starting with the most at risk catchments. This should include new ways to divert surface water from drains, which would require government endorsement and support of creating more sustainable drainage systems (SUDs) that can be used at scale.

It said government, regulators, water companies, agriculture, highways and other sectors should create an evidence-based long-term strategy to prioritise investment and guide policy change.

As part of the joined-up effort, Water UK called for the closure of legal loopholes to be made a priority. It said loopholes that create “unintended consequences” should be closed via a proposed Rivers Act piece of legislation focused on outcomes and the delivery of nature-based solutions.

All rivers would be subject to “timely, accurate, multi-source data on ecology, chemistry, public health and aesthetics” from increased “next generation” monitoring. The manifesto said a next generation monitoring system is needed for rivers that works towards a single sustainable national platform.

It proposed a target to be introduced under the environment bill to reduce the amount of water that can be abstracted from rivers. The plan said PR24 must represent a significant acceleration of demand management, leakage reduction and the development of novel water supply sources as an alternative to current rate of abstraction.

On bathing waters, the sector suggested developing a framework with government and stakeholder groups to ensure inland waters are safe for swimmers in all parts of England.

The work undertaken, the document stipulated, should be data driven and assess all sources of harm in a river to challenge and support the contributing sectors to improve and sustain river health.