As Defra and the two largest environmental regulators, the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural England (NE), embark on a period of reform they face several challenges, and success will depend on a joined-up, strategic approach, says the National Audit Office (NAO) in a new report.

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is warning that piecemeal regulators appear to be missing in action as failing water sector left to flounder, saying that regulators must provide much more clarity on plans to improve the financial precarity of the sector.

The final report of the Independent Water Commission published today is recommending the creation of a single water regulator for England and a single water regulator for Wales. In England this would replace Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and water-environment related functions from the Environment Agency and Natural England. 

The Independent Water Commission is calling for wide-ranging and fundamental change to reset the water sector in England & Wales to address ”deep-rooted, systemic and interlocking failures” in its interim findings released today ahead of its final report this summer.

Today marks the start of a four day hearing at the Competition Appeals Tribunal in a case brought by Professor Carolyn Roberts against six water companies for allegedly misleading regulators about the number of discharges of untreated sewage made into rivers, lakes, coastal areas, and other waterways causing damage to the environment.

Stream pollution has cost a Somerset farm more than £19,000 in court - the stream was polluted after the farm failed to make improvements following a farm inspection by the Environment Agency recommended improvements should be made to prevent possible pollution.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey has said that the recent floods caused by Storm Babet were exacerbated by the impacts of rain coming from the opposite direction.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has identified possible failures to comply with environmental law by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Environment Agency and Ofwat in relation to the regulation of combined sewer overflows (CSOs).  

The Office for Environmental (OEP) has announced that it is to carry out an investigation into the roles of Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Defra Secretary of State in the regulation of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in England.

Appearing before the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee last week, Environmental Audit Committee Chair Rt. Hon Phillip Dunne MP questioned the effectiveness of water sector regulators Ofwat and the Environment Agency.