Policy Threads

2025

9 events

16 Dec 2025 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Review of Water Efficiency Standards in the Building Regulations 2010 — consultation closed

The government is committed to creating environmental headroom for growth. A failure to implement water demand management measures in response to water scarcity could result in over 61,000 houses not being built costing the economy £25 billion this parliamentary term. …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

3 Dec 2025 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

New penalties for water company offences — consultation closed

We’re asking for views on strengthening the Environment Agency’s penalties against offences committed by water companies.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

3 Dec 2025 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Consultation on strengthening penalties for water company offences — consultation closed

This consultation invites views on the introduction of new penalties for offences committed by water companies. The consultation sets out our proposals for: variable monetary penalties (VMPs) imposed to the civil standard of proof (civil standard VMPs) automatic penalties, wh

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

22 Oct 2025 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Consultation on strengthening penalties for water company offences — consultation opened

This consultation invites views on the introduction of new penalties for offences committed by water companies. The consultation sets out our proposals for: variable monetary penalties (VMPs) imposed to the civil standard of proof (civil standard VMPs) automatic penalties, wh

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

22 Oct 2025 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

New penalties for water company offences — consultation opened

We’re asking for views on strengthening the Environment Agency’s penalties against offences committed by water companies.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

23 Sep 2025 | Consultation (closed) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Review of Water Efficiency Standards in the Building Regulations 2010 — consultation opened

The government is committed to creating environmental headroom for growth. A failure to implement water demand management measures in response to water scarcity could result in over 61,000 houses not being built costing the economy £25 billion this parliamentary term. …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

31 Jul 2025 | Statutory Instrument Welsh Government linked

The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) (Wales) Regulations 2025

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

20 Jun 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked

The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025

These Regulations are the first commencement regulations made under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (“the 2025 Act”).

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

20 Jun 2025 | Statutory Instrument linked

The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025

These Regulations are the first commencement regulations made under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (“the 2025 Act”).

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2024

4 events

27 Nov 2024 | Bill Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Context · primary home: Water (Special Measures) Act … linked

Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 — Bill 141 2024-25 (as brought from the Lords)

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Bill 141 2024-25 (as brought from the Lords)

25 Oct 2024 | Impact assessment Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Context · primary home: Water (Special Measures) Act … linked

Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 — Impact Assessments: Impact Assessment for the Water (Special Measures) Bill

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Impact-Assessment-Water(Special-Measures).pdf

4 Sep 2024 | Bill Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Context · primary home: Water (Special Measures) Act … linked

Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 — HL Bill 17 (as introduced)

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ 5901017.pdf

+2 more

↓ 5901017.xml ↓ 5901017.html

18 Mar 2024 | Bill Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Chalk Streams (Protection) Bill — Bill 66 2023-24 (as introduced)

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Bill 66 2023-24 (as introduced)

2023

2 events

11 Dec 2023 | Bill introduced linked

Chalk Streams (Protection) Bill — First reading

A Bill to provide for a category of protection for chalk streams for the purpose of providing additional protections from pollution, abstraction and other forms of environmental damage; and for connec

▤ View Bill · ↗ Parliament

29 Sep 2023 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) Scottish Government Welsh Government linked

UK mandatory water efficiency labelling — outcome published

Seeking views on the introduction of mandatory water efficiency labelling on water-using products.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response

2022

2 events

25 Nov 2022 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) Scottish Government Welsh Government linked

UK mandatory water efficiency labelling — consultation closed

Seeking views on the introduction of mandatory water efficiency labelling on water-using products.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response

2 Sep 2022 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) Scottish Government Welsh Government linked

UK mandatory water efficiency labelling — consultation opened

Seeking views on the introduction of mandatory water efficiency labelling on water-using products.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response

2018

2 events

26 Jul 2018 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2015 — outcome published

Seeking views on proposals to update the current rules on governing the exploitation, bottling and marketing of bottled drinking water.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Annex 2 - Summary of questions

+1 more

↓ Annex 3 - Questionnaire for bottled drinking water business…

24 May 2018 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Water quality: updating the public and private drinking water regulations — outcome published

Seeking views on updating the public and private drinking water regulations in England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses (45pp)

2017

3 events

24 Oct 2017 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Water quality: updating the public and private drinking water regulations — consultation closed

Seeking views on updating the public and private drinking water regulations in England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses (45pp)

12 Sep 2017 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Water quality: updating the public and private drinking water regulations — consultation opened

Seeking views on updating the public and private drinking water regulations in England.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses (45pp)

2 Feb 2017 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Water supply and sewerage licensing (WSSL): water code appeals — outcome published

Seeking views on the appeals process allowing water companies to challenge Ofwat’s decision to revise certain codes that regulate the retail market.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and the government’s respo… (9pp)

2016

4 events

13 Dec 2016 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Water supply and sewerage licensing (WSSL): water code appeals — consultation closed

Seeking views on the appeals process allowing water companies to challenge Ofwat’s decision to revise certain codes that regulate the retail market.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and the government’s respo… (9pp)

15 Nov 2016 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Water supply and sewerage licensing (WSSL): water code appeals — consultation opened

Seeking views on the appeals process allowing water companies to challenge Ofwat’s decision to revise certain codes that regulate the retail market.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and the government’s respo… (9pp)

17 Mar 2016 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Water supply and sewerage licensing regime: standard licence conditions and approach to secondary legislation — outcome published

Seeking views on the standard licence conditions and approach to secondary legislation for the water supply and sewerage licensing regime.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and the UK government’s re… (11pp)

28 Jan 2016 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Water supply and sewerage licensing regime: standard licence conditions and approach to secondary legislation — consultation closed

Seeking views on the standard licence conditions and approach to secondary legislation for the water supply and sewerage licensing regime.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and the UK government’s re… (11pp)

2015

5 events

17 Dec 2015 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Water supply and sewerage licensing regime: standard licence conditions and approach to secondary legislation — consultation opened

Seeking views on the standard licence conditions and approach to secondary legislation for the water supply and sewerage licensing regime.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and the UK government’s re… (11pp)

17 Nov 2015 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Applying water legislation to the Isles of Scilly — outcome published

Seeking views on applying water legislation to the Isles of Scilly.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response (14pp)

30 Oct 2015 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2015 — consultation closed

Seeking views on proposals to update the current rules on governing the exploitation, bottling and marketing of bottled drinking water.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Annex 2 - Summary of questions

+1 more

↓ Annex 3 - Questionnaire for bottled drinking water business…

2 Oct 2015 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2015 — consultation opened

Seeking views on proposals to update the current rules on governing the exploitation, bottling and marketing of bottled drinking water.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Annex 2 - Summary of questions

+1 more

↓ Annex 3 - Questionnaire for bottled drinking water business…

12 Feb 2015 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Applying water legislation to the Isles of Scilly — consultation closed

Seeking views on applying water legislation to the Isles of Scilly.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response (14pp)

2014

1 event

20 Nov 2014 | Consultation outcome Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs linked

Applying water legislation to the Isles of Scilly — consultation opened

Seeking views on applying water legislation to the Isles of Scilly.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Summary of responses and government response (14pp)