| answer text |
<p>The EU Withdrawal Act 2018 will make sure all existing EU environmental law continues
to operate in UK law, providing businesses and stakeholders with certainty as we leave
the EU. This will include the secondary legislation which has already transposed the
EU Bathing Water Directive, which will ensure the UK maintains or surpasses the same
standards and levels of testing for water quality required of EU Member States.</p><p>
</p><p>In January 2018, the Government published its 25 Year Plan for the environment
detailing our ambition to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better
state than we found it. As part of its plan for clean and plentiful water, the Government
aims to minimise harmful bacteria in designated bathing waters by 2030 and make sure
that potential bathers are warned of any short term pollution risks.</p><p> </p><p>Drinking
water and bathing waters are both devolved matters. With regards to drinking water,
standards derived from the EU Drinking Water Directive have been transposed into UK
law and the regulations in force cover the whole of the UK. These standards apply
currently and will continue to apply when the UK leaves the EU. National standards
which are not directly derived from the EU Drinking Water Directive are also enshrined
in UK law and will remain so once the UK leaves. The UK is covered by three technical
regulators of drinking water quality: the Drinking Water Inspectorate covering England
and Wales, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland and the Drinking Water
Inspectorate for Northern Ireland. These organisations will continue their role in
scrutinising water company activities and enforcing standards on departure from the
EU. Bathing water quality standards are derived from the EU Bathing Water Directive
and will also continue to apply when the UK leaves the EU. Water quality is monitored
by the Environment Agency (in England), Natural Resources Wales, the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.</p><p> </p>
|
|
