| answer text |
<p>The Government's Water <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fwater-abstraction-plan-2017&data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7Caa8c19461bc7485a6ee208d8977ee599%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637425918555847051%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=oMa1RguoV23MN0fboST4FzQIa0LlFdQYRZVFWQK6wbw%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">Abstraction Plan</a>, that was published in December 2017 sets out
clear objectives for achieving sustainable abstraction for England, plus mechanisms
for delivery. Our approach to addressing these issues has three main elements:</p><ul><li>making
full use of existing regulatory powers and approaches to address unsustainable abstraction;</li><li>developing
a stronger catchment focus;</li><li>and supporting these reforms by modernising the
abstraction service.</li></ul><p><br> Progress was last reported to parliament in
May 2019 ( <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fabstraction-reform-report-2019&data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7Caa8c19461bc7485a6ee208d8977ee599%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637425918555857003%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=1QL8%2F1zxndiyDdblL82WUOwXHgJGjypCki%2FHEAZs500%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">Report to Parliament</a> )</p><p>The Environment Agency has already
made changes to 124 licences to protect chalk streams from over abstraction, returning
over 37 billion litres of water per year to chalk streams, and preventing a further
100 billion litres per year being abstracted. In addition, they have revoked 85 unused
and underused licences in chalk streams, preventing 7.5 billion litres of water being
abstracted every year.</p><p>Further sustainability reductions amounting to about
100 million litres per day in chalk streams will be delivered in the next 5 years
by water companies through the Water Industry National Environment Programme. In addition,
the Environment Agency is working with water companies to prioritise additional voluntary
reductions in sensitive chalk catchments.</p>
|
|
