20/08/09
Water UK, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and Consumer Council for Water have written a joint letter to Defra Secretary of State Hilary Benn asking him to strengthen plans for tackling water pollution.
The letter asks Mr Benn to revise the balance of responsibility between different sectors in draft River Basin Management Plans he must sign off in December.
In their present form the draft plans do not require full account to be taken of important sources of diffuse pollution, including from farms, roads and industry. If the plans are implemented without change, almost all active remediation will be undertaken by water and sewerage companies and paid for by their customers.
The three organisations share the view that this would not be equitable or sustainable. There would be a higher cost in terms of both finance and carbon emissions if the other sectors are not enabled to take more responsibility for reducing pollution at source.
In particular, agriculture, highways and local authorities should play their part in meeting the objectives of the Water Framework Directive.
Read full letterFor more information please contact:
Water UK Communication
020 7344 1809 (out of hours 07833 450544)
