The Independent Water Commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe, has containing 88 recommendations including a new integrated regulator for water and nine new regional water authorities to deliver on local priorities.
The report follows a review into how the water sector is regulated in England and Wales which the NFU responded to, calling for:
- Integrated water management planning.
- Better coordination between catchment partnerships and Regional Flood and Coastal Committees.
- A review of the Water Framework Directive Regulations 鈥榦ne-out, all out鈥� rule for Good Ecological Status.
- National targets for the water industry and the overarching framework that it operates within.
鈥淯ltimately, we need a joined-up approach that includes a comprehensive water management strategy.鈥�
NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos
Responding to the launch of the report, Defra Secretary Steve Reed has promised to set out a White Paper this autumn, giving the government鈥檚 full response to the commission's report.
The government will also seek to launch a consultation before bringing forward a new Water Reform Bill.
Ofwat scrapped
The Defra Secretary has already accepted a key recommendation from the report, announcing that the regulator Ofwat will be abolished, and in its place the government will establish a new, single regulator that combines the functions of Ofwat, the EA (Environment Agency), Natural England and Drinking Water Inspectorate.
The report also called for a National Water Strategy, for Wales and England respectively, setting out a renewed, long-term vision for the water environment. New regional system planners are to ensure priorities and ambitions are influenced at the local level, with all responsible sectors playing their part to protect the water environment.
The plans for the new regulator have yet to be made clear, but the report indicated that the operational flood functions would remain with the EA. Those teams in the current regulators which conduct planning, including for River Basin Management Plans and water resources, would move into regional systems planning. While other functions related to compliance, including permitting, monitoring, and enforcement, would be conducted by the new regulator.
Farmers must be represented
Responding to the report's publication NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos said that it 鈥渃learly highlights the huge pressure on water in this country be it resources, flooding, or quality鈥�.
On plans for new, regional water authorities Rachel said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 vital that, if the government adopts this approach, agriculture is represented on these groups in order to deliver on that goal.
鈥淯ltimately, we need a joined-up approach that includes a comprehensive water management strategy that encourages investment in the country's water infrastructure and allows us to collaborate better with government, local authorities and water companies, and prioritises UK food security as national security.
"We will continue to examine in detail all the recommendations within the Cunliffe report and the potential impacts on our farmer and grower members.鈥澛�
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