In a policy update setting out progess on the Government's landmark Environment Bill, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has said that priorities include securing long-term, resilient water and wastewater services and protecting customers from potentially unaffordable bills.

In an update on progress towards the introduction of the landmark Environment Bill – the first for 20 years – the government has published firm positions, following a range of consultations, on issues ranging from trees to water to recycling, to boost our natural environment.

The Minister has set out the government’s ambitions for the full Environment Bill in an updated summer policy statement, including commitments to legislate on environmental governance, air, biodiversity, water, and waste and resource efficiency.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said the plans will improve air quality, restore habitats and increase biodiversity, strive towards a more circular economy and ensure precious water resources could be managed in a changing climate.

Commenting on improving management of water in the environment, the update says the Environment Secretary has been clear that water companies need to do more to help improve the environment and better prepare for future demand for water. There was strong support in response to a consultation on proposals to improve long-term planning of water resources and drainage. The Bill will introduce powers to direct water companies to work together to address the issues, such as transferring supplies between catchments during drought conditions, and instructing them to have robust plans in place to maintain supplies.

The policy statement, which summarises progress so far and updates the direction and vision of the Bill, says that the government’s priorities for the water sector, in line with the 25 Year Plan, are clear:

“They should be securing long-term, resilient water and wastewater services, protecting customers from potentially unaffordable bills and also making sure that we have a cleaner, greener country for the next generation.”

“Through the Environment Bill, we will support regulators in ensuring that customers and the environment are protected. We will legislate to strengthen Ofwat’s powers to update water companies’ licences, in order to make sure that they can do their job.”

Key measures to strengthen water resilience in the Environment Bill include:

• support for regulators in ensuring that customers and the environment are protected
• legislation to strengthen Ofwat’s powers to update water companies’ licences, in order to make sure that they can do their job
• bringing the way in which water companies appeal Ofwat decisions in line with that for other utility regulators to strengthen Ofwat’s ability to improve the way that water companies operate and protect water resources
• powers to direct water companies to work together on how they will meet current and future demand for water

The Government intends to make planning more robust, and ensure it is better able to maintain supplies, even in drought conditions and/or in areas of water stress, for example by working jointly to transfer between catchments when needed.

It will also take an additional power to enable future updates to a list of harmful chemicals which must be tackled to protect the aquatic environment.

The Government also plans to legislate in the Environment Bill to mandate biodiversity ‘net gain’ in future developments.

The new measure is intended to ensure that the environmental impacts of new commercial and residential developments are more than made up for, either on-site or by ensuring money is invested in improving existing habitats and restoring nature depleted environments to health.

A new system of environmental spatial mapping will also be included in the Bill.

The new legal powers will also allow the Government to set resource- efficiency product standards, driving a shift in the market towards more durable, reparable and recyclable products.

Click here to download the policy statement