A key component of a periodic review is the National Environment Programme (NEP). The NEP is a list of environmental improvement schemes that ensure that water companies meet European and national targets related to water.
We have produced the NEP after consultation with the water industry and a number of other organisations. Companies incorporate these requirements into their proposed business plans, which inform Ofwat's decision on prices.
What is included in the NEP?
The NEP includes requirements for water companies to undertake improvement schemes, or where more evidence is required, to investigate a particular problem. Each water company's NEP is different, as there will be different issues in every region. However the types of actions we see coming forward include:
- improving the quality of water that is discharged from sewage treatment works
- investigating the risk from certain chemicals and assessing the best treatment options
- preventing chemicals from entering groundwater
- protecting the waters where there are shellfish which will improve the quality of shellfish that people eat
- ensuring that abstractions do not impact adversely on habitats which are protected by law
- improving the quality of bathing waters
- improving inland waters for fish
- reducing the risk of eutrophication (excessive plant growth and decay)
The size and shape of the NEP
The NEP is broken into two parts: water resources and water quality.
There is a spreadsheet available which provides the details of each water quality scheme listed in these tables. If you would like to receive a copy, please email:
What the NEP will mean for you
The NEP will produce a large number of environmental benefits for water customers.
- class="standard">See what benefits your water company will deliver through the NEP
Questions and answers: PR09 – the National Environment Programme
We have produced the following questions and answers to help inform you about the National Environment Programme, what we would like to see in it and what benefits it will bring to water customers and to the environment.
