Policies abd Regulations

The catalogue identifies relevant open data sources, including Earth Observation (EO) satellite data, as well as environmental and socio-economic. These sources include local and remote sensors (such as satellite imagery, weather stations, and water quality monitoring devices), research outputs (such as census reports, land use maps, and economic indicators). Each resource is evaluated for quality, update frequency, accessibility, and any applicable legal constraints.

ID â–² Name Issuing organisation Geographical Scope Type Scientific domain Type of water Water management focus Parameter change rate assumption Description Status Effect Date Resource Recommendations
policies-11 The Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation chemistry The Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 increased Ofwat’s powers to determine disputes and increased the limited opportunities for competition in the industry. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/43/contents Introduced consumer rights and performance standards for utility companies, including the water sector, to improve service and transparency.
policies-12 The Environment Act 1995 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology The Environment Act 1995 led to restructuring of environmental regulation and placed a duty on the companies to promote the efficient use of water by customers. It created a new body, the Environment Agency, which took over the functions of the National Rivers Authority, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Pollution, the waste regulation functions of local authorities and certain elements of the Department of the Environment. Natural Resources Wales now exercises the functions of the Environment Agency in Wales. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/25/contents Established the Environment Agency and introduced new frameworks for pollution control, sustainable development, and environmental protection.
policies-13 The Environment Act 2021 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology Natural environment https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/30/contents Sets legally binding environmental targets, strengthens regulation of water companies, and enhances water quality and biodiversity protections post-Brexit.
policies-14 The Competition Act 1998 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation chemistry The Competition Act 1998 prohibits any agreements between businesses that prevent, restrict or distort competition. It also prohibits any abuse of a dominant market position. Ofwat shares enforcement powers in relation to the water and sewerage sectors with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/41/contents Prohibits anti-competitive agreements and abuse of market dominance, encouraging fair competition in sectors including water services.
policies-15 Water Industry Act 1991 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/56/contents Consolidates laws on the supply of water and sewerage services, setting duties for water companies and enabling regulation of prices and performance.
policies-16 Water Industry Act 1999 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation chemistry Drinking water; wastewater monitoring; management The Water Industry Act 1999 made several important amendments to the Water Industry Act 1991. These included: removing a company’s right to disconnect domestic customers for non-payment of bills, limiting the circumstances in which companies can starting charging domestic customers on a metered basis, securing that companies could continue to charge customers on the basis of rateable value. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/9/contents Enhanced consumer protections, including banning disconnections for non-payment and introducing debt recovery safeguards.
policies-17 Water Act 2003 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation chemistry Drinking water; wastewater monitoring; management The Water Act 2003 amended the framework for abstraction licensing, made changes to the corporate structure of economic regulation, and extended the scope for competition in the industry to large users. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/37/contents Promotes sustainable water use, streamlines abstraction licensing, and strengthens the powers of the regulator (Ofwat).
policies-18 Enterprise Act 2002 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation NA The Enterprise Act 2002 amended the Water Industry Act 1991 to update the regime for the compulsory reference of certain mergers between water companies to the Competition Commission (now the CMA). http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/40/contents Provides tools to investigate and remedy anti-competitive practices and promotes consumer interests, applying also to the water industry.
policies-19 Flood and Water Management Act 2010 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 encouraged the use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs), amended the Water Industry Act to modernise the list of activities that can be restricted by water companies in a drought, and made it easier for water companies to offer lower tariffs to certain groups. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/29/contents
policies-20 Water Act 2014 UK Parliament England and Wales Legistlation physical states, chemistry, geology, and biology The Water Act 2014 enables greater competition for non-household customers (expected to be limited to customers of English water companies) and gives Ofwat new powers to make rules about charges and charges schemes, as well as making provisions for flood insurance and drainage boards. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/21/introduction