Found: The forthcoming Clean Water Bill will strengthen regional water planning, creating a more integrated

Found: These include the Clean Water Bill, Competition Reform Bill, Energy Independence Bill, Enhancing Financial

Found: The forthcoming Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech will go further still.

Found: These are really simple things, and they do not sound like a lot, but £4 million off your water bill

Found: With the Clean Water Bill that we are introducing later this year, there will be a performance improvement

Found: take the power to set standards on the face of primary legislation in the form of the UK clean water Bill

Found: currently underway across the water sector, including the Government’s reform programme and the Clean Water Bill

Found: Honestly, not everyone knows that if you cannot pay your water bill, you cannot be cut off, so people

Found: For water specifically, there will be measures in the clean water Bill, which will extend the requirements

Found: It also reported that around 20% of people are struggling to afford their water bill.

Found: reinforcement and site-specific developer services is paid for directly by developers and not general water bill

Found: Henderson, CEO at Water UK, highlighted that costs to remove PFAS from drinking water fall on water bill

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what transitional governance arrangements she plans to put in place before the establishment of a single integrated water regulator; which body will be responsible during that transition for coordinating functions exercised by Ofwat, the Environment Agency, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Consumer Council for Water; and whether she plans to publish a transition plan.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Work is already underway to support transition arrangements, including the appointment of Professor Dame Julia Black as Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State on Water Reform Transition to inform the strategic design of the new regulator and oversee transition arrangements. The Clean Water Bill was announced as a second session Bill in the King’s Speech and will be introduced in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish an implementation plan for the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission setting out whether each recommendation (a) has been accepted, rejected and remains under consideration and (b) requires primary legislation, secondary legislation, regulatory action and non-legislative departmental action; and if she will set an indicative timetable for implementation of each recommendation accepted.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Work is already underway to support transition arrangements, including the appointment of Professor Dame Julia Black as Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State on Water Reform Transition to inform the strategic design of the new regulator and oversee transition arrangements. The Clean Water Bill was announced as a second session Bill in the King’s Speech and will be introduced in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what timetable she has set for introducing primary legislation to reform the regulation of the water sector; and whether she plans to publish (i) draft clauses and (ii) a policy paper setting out how that legislation will provide for the (a) establishment of a single integrated water regulator, (b) transfer of functions from existing regulators and (c) commencement of the new regulatory framework.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Work is already underway to support transition arrangements, including the appointment of Professor Dame Julia Black as Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State on Water Reform Transition to inform the strategic design of the new regulator and oversee transition arrangements. The Clean Water Bill was announced as a second session Bill in the King’s Speech and will be introduced in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring (a) protection for (i) rivers, (ii) chalk streams and (iii) coastal waters, and (b) accountability for polluters in the Clean Water Bill.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Clean Water Bill forms part of a wider programme of reforms to restore the water environment and improve performance across the sector.

The Bill will support action to reduce pollution at source, secure long-term investment in water infrastructure and improve environmental outcomes across rivers, coastal waters and other water bodies. It will contribute to strengthening accountability for polluters through reforms to water company regulation and oversight.

The Government is taking action to help address the pressures chalk streams face, including through environmental policy and the Planning and Infrastructure Act, which makes clear, through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that planning policies and decisions should protect and enhance valued landscapes and sites of biodiversity, which includes chalk streams.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of surface water entering combined sewer systems in communities affected by flooding and sewage pollution.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires all development to utilise sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) where they could have drainage impacts. We have consulted on a revised version of the NPPF and are now in the process of considering next steps.

Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3.

Water recycling and reuse, including greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting, are essential to improving water efficiency and resilience. Building on our Water Efficiency in Building Regulations consultation, we are exploring options through the Water Bill to encourage non-potable water supplies in large non-household developments, reducing demand for potable water.

Government supports Nature-Based Solution trials where suitable. Trials are intended to address overflows with high spill frequencies caused by surface water infiltration, groundwater infiltration or inflows that cannot be resolved through interventions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration has been given to requiring rainwater harvesting and attenuation measures in new developments in Yetminster and the River Wriggle catchment.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires all development to utilise sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) where they could have drainage impacts. We have consulted on a revised version of the NPPF and are now in the process of considering next steps.

Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3.

Water recycling and reuse, including greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting, are essential to improving water efficiency and resilience. Building on our Water Efficiency in Building Regulations consultation, we are exploring options through the Water Bill to encourage non-potable water supplies in large non-household developments, reducing demand for potable water.

Government supports Nature-Based Solution trials where suitable. Trials are intended to address overflows with high spill frequencies caused by surface water infiltration, groundwater infiltration or inflows that cannot be resolved through interventions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has established a timetable for implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires all development to utilise sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) where they could have drainage impacts. We have consulted on a revised version of the NPPF and are now in the process of considering next steps.

Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3.

Water recycling and reuse, including greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting, are essential to improving water efficiency and resilience. Building on our Water Efficiency in Building Regulations consultation, we are exploring options through the Water Bill to encourage non-potable water supplies in large non-household developments, reducing demand for potable water.

Government supports Nature-Based Solution trials where suitable. Trials are intended to address overflows with high spill frequencies caused by surface water infiltration, groundwater infiltration or inflows that cannot be resolved through interventions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to increase the use of sustainable drainage systems in new developments in West Dorset.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires all development to utilise sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) where they could have drainage impacts. We have consulted on a revised version of the NPPF and are now in the process of considering next steps.

Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3.

Water recycling and reuse, including greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting, are essential to improving water efficiency and resilience. Building on our Water Efficiency in Building Regulations consultation, we are exploring options through the Water Bill to encourage non-potable water supplies in large non-household developments, reducing demand for potable water.

Government supports Nature-Based Solution trials where suitable. Trials are intended to address overflows with high spill frequencies caused by surface water infiltration, groundwater infiltration or inflows that cannot be resolved through interventions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government remains committed to implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 in England.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires all development to utilise sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) where they could have drainage impacts. We have consulted on a revised version of the NPPF and are now in the process of considering next steps.

Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3.

Water recycling and reuse, including greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting, are essential to improving water efficiency and resilience. Building on our Water Efficiency in Building Regulations consultation, we are exploring options through the Water Bill to encourage non-potable water supplies in large non-household developments, reducing demand for potable water.

Government supports Nature-Based Solution trials where suitable. Trials are intended to address overflows with high spill frequencies caused by surface water infiltration, groundwater infiltration or inflows that cannot be resolved through interventions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department plans to update the UK’s water quality monitoring frameworks to ensure that persistent pollutants, including PFAS chemicals and microplastics, are monitored across all waterbodies and wastewater.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK’s water quality monitoring frameworks are fit for purpose; improving environmental protection by setting clear and enforceable standards for water quality and ecological health.

Through the Clean Water Bill, we intend to progress an ambitious, coherent reset of the legislative framework – including exploring updates to elements of the Water Framework Directive Regulations and Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations. The Government’s PFAS Plan, published on 3 February 2026, also committed to continue to develop toxicological thresholds for PFAS that may impact on the quality of our water environment to support regulatory actions. As part of this work, we will consider whether stronger monitoring standards should be established for persistent pollutants.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential economic contribution of recreational paddlesport to local economies; and what steps she is taking to protect access to waterways used by paddlers in the Clean Water Bill.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone, including taking part in paddlesport.

We know our waterways are vital for keeping the country active, which is why we are committed to protecting them so they remain clean, safe, and accessible for everyone.

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system. Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water White Paper. Targeted engagement is already taking place with stakeholders across the water sector to support policy development.

The Government also recently designated 13 new bathing waters, including six river sites. Designated bathing waters are regularly monitored during the bathing season, and water quality results are published on the Swimfo website. This helps to protect public health, allowing individuals to make more informed decisions about when and where to enter the water.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect the health of people using inland waters for recreation.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system.

Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water White Paper.

The Government recently designated 13 new bathing waters, including six river sites. Designated bathing waters are regularly monitored during the bathing season, and water quality results are published on the Swimfo website. This helps to protect public health, allowing individuals to make more informed decisions about when and where to enter the water.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take legislative steps to make the Water Restoration Fund a long-term legal entity in the proposed Clean Water Bill.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The recipients of the Water Restoration Fund were announced in October 2025, with projects due to be completed by March 2028.

The most recent tranche of water company fines, as announced alongside the White Paper in January, is being allocated to catchment partnerships, the Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) and Water and Abandoned Metal Mines (WAMM) Programme. Further details on future tranches of water company announced in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department provides guidance to Ofwat on approving water bill increases where companies have ongoing records of sewage discharges and environmental breaches.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat determines the price, investment, and service package that customers receive, through the Price Review mechanism. Price Reviews take place every five years, with the most recent one (PR24) covering the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030. Ofwat's decisions determine the amount of revenue which each company can receive from customers (households and businesses). The actual charges to customers are decided by companies, following charging rules which Ofwat sets.

Companies have a range of performance targets covering areas such as customer service, water supply standards, and environmental performance. Where companies do not meet the targets the amount they can take from customers for the following year is reduced to reflect that performance.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of (1) the above inflation increase in the average household water bill in 2025/2026, and (2) the expected above inflation increase in 2026/2027, on low-income households.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Water companies must submit their estimated water poverty levels as part of their Price Review 24 business plan. From these projections we expect around 1 million households to be in water poverty by 2030. The Water Servies Regulation Authority (Ofwat) will publish a Cost-of-Living Report on affordability challenges this summer.

We expect all water companies to support customers struggling to pay their bills including more than doubling the number of customers receiving social tariffs. We will continue to take action to ensure the most vulnerable are protected from rising bills. As part of this, this Government is undertaking reforms to the statutory support scheme WaterSure.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on Ofwat considering (a) measures to reduce reliance on single sources of water supply and (b) long-term asset health and resilience in future price determinations.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to increasing our water supply while protecting the environment and public health. We are taking a twin track approach to improving water supply resilience. This involves urgent action to reduce water company leaks and use drinking water and rainwater more efficiently, alongside new supply infrastructure, including new reservoirs and water transfers.

In the Water White Paper, the government set out our commitment to developing statutory resilience standards, which will be brought forward through the Clean Water Bill announced in the King’s Speech. These standards will ensure companies secure the long-term resilience of their water supply and sewerage systems.

Alongside the development of forward-looking asset health metrics to ensure critical infrastructure gets the funding that it needs, these standards will safeguard customer services in the context of a changing climate as well as population growth and other pressures.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help protect the health of people using inland waters for recreation.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system.

Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water White Paper.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will make an assessment of the a) resilience and b) capacity of the local water provision following shortages in the Weybridge area.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers. Companies set out how they will continue to meet this duty through statutory Water Resources Management Plans. They must maintain their plans and are required to review the plans to take account of changes, such as new housing growth.

In the Water White Paper, the Government set out our commitment to developing statutory resilience standards, which will be brought forward through the Clean Water Bill announced in the King’s Speech.

These standards will require companies to undertake long-term assessments of their water supply and sewerage assets and systems. Alongside a reformed approach to setting funding and incentives for asset maintenance, these standards will safeguard customer services in the context of a changing climate as well as population growth and other pressures.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a statutory duty on water companies to protect recreational users of waters in the forthcoming Clean Water Bill.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system.

Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water White Paper.

Targeted engagement is already taking place with stakeholders across the water sector to support policy development.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that recreational water users, including paddlers, are considered in the development of the Clean Water Bill, including in relation to public access to inland waterways.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system.

Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water White Paper.

Targeted engagement is already taking place with stakeholders across the water sector to support policy development.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with stakeholders representing recreational users of water on the proposed Clean Water Bill.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system.

Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water White Paper.

Targeted engagement is already taking place with stakeholders across the water sector to support policy development.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in response to the hon, Member for Twickenham during oral questions on 19 March 2026, if she will provide further information on reforms of public health and water including (a) legislation required and (b) timeframe for implementation.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system.

Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water White Paper.

Implementation is already underway, with further legislation and reforms delivered over time as part of the Government’s wider programme to reset the water system.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the regulatory framework governing water companies.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The existing regulatory system has been exploited time and time again. We are putting this right through our Clean Water Bill. We will create a single, powerful regulator with sharper oversight and clearer powers, so water companies are properly held to account. That means faster intervention when performance slips and a stronger framework to protect customers and the environment.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) water supply systems and (b) other critical infrastructure are resilient to projected climate impacts.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In the Water White Paper, the Government set out our commitment to developing statutory resilience standards, which will be brought forward through the Clean Water Bill announced in the King’s Speech.

These standards will require companies to undertake long-term assessments of their water supply and sewerage assets and systems. Alongside a reformed approach to setting funding and incentives for asset maintenance, these standards will safeguard customer services in the context of a changing climate as well as population growth and other pressures.

Furthermore, a programme of £8 billion has been secured through to 2030 to invest in infrastructure and actions to improve water supply resilience. Major supply infrastructure planned before 2050 includes 10 new reservoirs, 9 water transfer schemes and 2 desalination schemes.

Found: Reynolds confirmed that several of the reforms outlined in the white paper would be included in a new water bill

Found: circumstances Summary 11 17 There is a risk that water debt levels will rise following significant water bill

Found: circumstances Summary 11 17 There is a risk that water debt levels will rise following significant water bill

Found: record and annually report to Ofwat the number and amount of customers making savings on their water bill

Found: record and annually report to Ofwat the number and amount of customers making savings on their water bill

Found: to improve how we use water resources this is likely to be following the passage of the Clean Water Bill

Found: struggling to pay for their water bills •In 2024/25, 20% of bill payers report struggling with their water bill

Found: the rent, because we’ve got the council tax, isn’t it, you’ve got council tax, you’ve got the water bill

Found: The Clean Water Bill will bring forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for customers

Found: The Enhancing Financial Services Bill will update and streamline financial regulation; The Clean Water Bill

Found: government has confirmed that in the second Parliamentary session it will introduce the landmark Clean Water Bill

Found: government has confirmed that in the second Parliamentary session it will introduce the landmark Clean Water Bill

Found: Average Household Water Bill in England and Wales (£) 465 Potential revenue in Northern Ireland if

Found: explored Amina’s situation and supported her applications for welfare benefits (PIP, UC50) and for water bill

Found: This announcement is in line with the upcoming Clean Water Bill, announced this week in the King’s Speech

Found: The Enhancing Financial Services Bill will update and streamline financial regulation; The Clean Water Bill

Found: Protections (Late Payments) Bill.............................................................19 Clean Water Bill

Found: Protections (Late Payments) Bill ............................................................ 19 Clean Water Bill

Found: (Late Payments) Bill ............................................................. 19 Clean Water Bill

Found: UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 7 of 37 Water Act 2014 The Water Bill received royal assent on 14

Found: statutory instrument programme (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) • the Clean Water Bill

Found: CCW is the only organisation to test the price review outcomes with the people who fund it – water bill

Found: We found that households would be willing to pay up to £40 a year more on their water bill to use nature

Found: Government will improve critical infrastructure with legislation to clean-up the water industry [Clean Water Bill

Found: Government will improve critical infrastructure with legislation to clean-up the water industry [Clean Water Bill

Found: the rent, because we’ve got the council tax, isn’t it, you’ve got council tax, you’ve got the water bill

Found: taking control of water, while noting the dependency on the UK Government and its planned Clean Water Bill

Found: Once a customer has paid their water bill for six months, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water pays off 50% of their