Policy Threads

2025

6 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

2023

1 event

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)