Water

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on water including rivers. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
28.06.2013Flood insurance
This note outlines issues relating to flood insurance within the UK.
06.06.2013Septic tanks: new regulations
Septic tanks within groundwater source protection zone 1 had to be registered or have an environmental permit by 2012. All other septic tanks may have to be registered depending on the outcome of the consultation by DEFRA due to be announced in 2013.
24.05.2013Water bills - are they affordable to all?
Water affordability problems have grown with real-term increases in water bills of around 50% since privatisation in 1989. Current UK Government policy might not ensure that water bills are affordable to all those on low incomes, although support is available for some vulnerable households.
24.05.2013Water bills and rateable values
Members of the public often contact their water company or MP complaining that their water bill is much higher than their neighbour's because of differences to the rateable value of the properties. However, rateable values cannot be changed. Opting for a water meter might be the best option for households seeking to reduce their water bill.
17.05.2013Water bills in the south-west
This note provides information on water bills in the south-west, which are significantly higher than in other parts of England. It describes the Government's solution to the problem: a payment allowing a £50 reduction of South West Water customer bills from April 2013.

Research Papers

DateDescription
28.01.2010Flood and Water Management Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Flood and Water Management Bill. It complements Research Paper 09/91 prepared for the Commons Second Reading.
10.12.2009Flood and Water Management Bill. Bill 9 2009-10.
There has been growing pressure to introduce legislation to address the threat of flooding and water scarcity-both are predicted to increase with climate change. The Government published a draft Flood and Water Management Bill in April 2009, and the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of the document. The Committee welcomed a number of the proposals, but it was concerned that a lack of parliamentary time would undermine the introduction of a comprehensive Bill. The Government introduced a slimmed-down version of the Bill on 19 November 2009. Key features include measures to: require the Environment Agency to create a National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy, which a number of organisations will have to follow; require lead local flood authorities to create Local Flood Risk Management Strategies; enable the Environment Agency and local authorities more easily to carry out flood risk management works; introduce a more risk-based approach to reservoir management; change the arrangements that would apply should a water company go into administration; enable water companies more easily to control non-essential uses of water, such as the use of hosepipes; enable water companies to offer concessions to community groups for surface water drainage charges; require the use of sustainable drainage systems in certain new developments; and, introduce a mandatory build standard for sewers.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
30.03.2011Future flood and water management legislation.
Government response. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs report [Commons]
30.03.2011The draft National Policy Statement on waste water.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
15.12.2010Future flood and water management legislation.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
14.10.2009Ofwat price review 2009.
Government response. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
12.10.2009Draft Flood and Water Management Bill.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
20.12.2011SCHOOL TOILET AND WATER FACILITIES
That this House is alarmed at plans to abolish the specific provisions on toilets in the School Premises Regulations; notes that school toilet facilities are inconsistent and often ...
01.11.2011THAMES TUNNEL
That this House is concerned that the recent report by Lord Selborne, instigated by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, long-standing opponents of the Thames Tunnel, fails ...
18.07.2011WATER MAIN BURSTS IN HUYTON
That this House notes with disgust the latest burst water main at Liverpool Road, Huyton; further notes that this is the fifth such burst in recent years and for the third time has ...
15.06.2011STAY COOLER CAMPAIGN
That this House supports the British Water Cooler Association's Stay Cooler campaign, a nationwide initiative to promote the importance of a healthy and hydrated workforce; recognises ...
18.05.2011DRAFT NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENT ON WASTE WATER
That this House notes the publication by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the draft National Policy Statement on waste water; recognises the need to construct ...

POST Papers

DateDescription
17.09.2012Water Resource Resilience
The availability of water resources is fundamental for society and economic activities. This POSTnote describes the reasons for uncertainties in water resource availability for future supply and demand and possible responses to managing these risks in the medium term.
15.09.2011Water in production and products
This POSTnote examines how virtual water use is calculated and its application within the global economy.
01.04.2011Water adaptation in Africa, April 2011
This POSTnote discusses adapting water resource management to climate change in Africa.
01.10.2010Resilience of UK infrastructure
This POSTnote outlines efforts to improve the resilience of infrastructure to the risks of natural hazards and any effects of future climate change.
01.12.2008River basin management plans, December 2008
This POSTnote outlines some of the challenges in implementing River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) in the UK to meet Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - papers compiled by the House of Lords Library on Bills and for debates in the Lords