The UK Government has set out plans to ensure a clean and plentiful supply of water for the future. In its Plan for Water, the Government wants more investment from water companies, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement against those who pollute.
It also includes a consultation on a ban of plastic in wet wipes and restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foam, textiles, cleaning products, paints and varnishes. Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said at the weekend that water companies could face unlimited penalties for dumping sewage.
These would be reinvested into a new Water Restoration Fund which the Government said would support local groups and community-led schemes to clean up waterways. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it has asked water companies to speed up investment in infrastructure to prevent sewage discharges, reduce nutrient pollution and improve the water supply’s resilience to drought.
