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<p>The Environment Agency (EA) regularly tracks water company performance and was
concerned that sufficient improvements were not being made to meet our targets prior
to this year’s poor results.</p><p> </p><p>In response to these results, the EA is
taking action and there will be:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>An increased number of audits
and inspections.</p></li><li><p>Requests for companies to produce root cause analysis
reports for serious pollution incidents in order to learn from them.</p></li><li><p>Requests
for each company to produce a pollution reduction plan signed off at Chief Executive
Office (CEO) level which they will be accountable for.</p></li><li><p>Requests for
the companies to share good practice proactively as an industry wide response to the
problems we are facing.</p></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition, in July 2019,
the EA has set up a new ‘Improving Water Company Performance’ programme which will
tighten regulation to encourage water companies to meet their environmental targets.
It is extensive and we anticipate it will take some time to deliver fully.</p><p>
</p><p>The programme will include:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>Enhancing the EA’s regulatory
tools, including more and better quality inspections, audits and greater use of technology
to remotely monitor operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.</p></li><li><p>Maximising
the use of enforcement and sanctions powers to ensure they act as a powerful deterrent.</p></li><li><p>Updating
the Environmental Performance Assessment for the 2021-2025 period to include a broader
range of measures with tightened standards where appropriate.</p></li><li><p>Working
with Ofwat to develop greater links between environmental performance and financial
penalties and incentives.</p></li><li><p>Improving our regulation of sewage sludge
treatment and disposal to ensure it is sufficiently robust to protect against emerging
risks such as chemicals, antimicrobial resistance and micro-plastics.</p></li></ul><p>
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