In the Environment Agency’s first ever Chief Regulator’s report, Dr Jo Nettleton, who was appointed to the Chief Regulator role in April 2024, has reviewed activities regulated by the Environment Agency in 2023-24.
The report, which replaces the Regulating for People, the Environment and Growth reports from previous years, summarises the performance of those the EA regulates and the EA’s performance as a regulator. It also sets out some of the changes to the regulatory system that the EA believes will strengthen the country’s ability to respond to a changing environment and support government priorities on the transition to net zero, the circular economy and boosting sustainable economic growth.
Discussing water industry performance in the report, Dr Jo Nettleton said:
“We know from our evidence, where water company investment and improvements are made, good environmental outcomes have been achieved. We have seen large reductions in these pollutants discharged to rivers from sewage treatment works.
“However, previous and current performance of the water industry is not good enough. We have a part to play and acknowledge where we can make further improvements too. We are transforming the way we regulate the water industry. I look forward to seeing the improvement that our transformation programme and our increased compliance and enforcement work can deliver in 2025.
“We, and the public, want more for the water environment. This will take time as improving and protecting the quality of rivers, coasts, estuaries and groundwater is complex. There are no simple solutions to deliver the change overnight and no sector can do it alone. There are multiple pressures on England’s inland and coastal waters: 36% of water bodies are affected by wastewater, 40% by farming, 18% by towns, cities and transport, and 3% by abandoned metal mines. Regulation, investment and transparency have all led to improvements in water quality – we know these are effective levers to tackle the issues, but more must be done across all sources.”
