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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) sanctions will be made and (b) enforcement action will be taken against water companies that fail to plan, invest in, and operate water and wastewater services to secure the needs of current and future customers, in a way which delivers value to customers, the environment and wider society over the long-term.

Water companies have a statutory duty to develop and maintain water service provision which will provide security of supply for customers. Statutory water resources management plans show how companies will meet this duty and manage water supply and demand for at least the next 25 years. The water supply duties, including the preparation and review of water resources management plans, are enforceable under the Water Industry Act 1991 by Ofwat and the Secretary of State.

Additionally, water and sewerage companies are currently in the first cycle of non-statutory planning, known as Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs), and this is expected to be completed by companies in spring 2023. This planning process will help sewerage companies to fully assess wastewater network capacity and develop collaborative solutions.

DWMPs will become statutory through the Environment Act 2021 when the first cycle ends in 2023.

To ensure water and sewerage companies are delivering their plans, Ofwat, the economic regulator for the water industry, will be able to use existing levers to take enforcement action.