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<p>Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure water supply for customers
by developing and maintaining efficient and economical systems of water service provision.</p><p>Statutory
water resources management plans show how water companies will meet this duty by managing
water supply and demand for at least the next 25 years. The plans must take account
of the implications of population growth and climate change. The plans must be subject
to public consultation, including with statutory consultees Ofwat and the Environment
Agency before the Secretary of State allows their publication.</p><p>Yorkshire Water
published its water resources management plan in 2020. The plan must be reviewed annually
and revised at least every five years.</p><p>The Environment Bill will enhance the
water resources management planning processes. The measures will complement the Environment
Agency's National Framework for water resources, published in 2020, which sets out
England's future water needs and our expectations for how regional groups will inform
the delivery of those needs, including Water Resources North informing Yorkshire Water's
water resources management plan. The measures will allow improved collaboration between
water companies and with other water users, to aid environmental improvement and the
sustainable use of water resources.</p><p>The Environment Bill will also give the
Environment Agency additional powers to vary or revoke permanent abstraction licences
without the liability to pay compensation where it is necessary to protect the environment
from damage, or where the licence holder has abstracted at least 25% less water than
their licensed volume (underused their licence) in every year over the previous 12-year
period. The Environment Agency already have powers to vary or revoke water company
abstraction licences without being liable to pay compensation but these additional
powers will tackle unsustainable abstraction from other water abstractors.</p>
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