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So this again... We've been pointing the risk to water quality since discussion on #25yep back in 2018...
Moving away from 'good status' to close to natural state allows dilution of water standards (and makes it harder to track). https://twitter.com/HugoSAS/status/1295989684045320192
Moving away from 'good status' to close to natural state allows dilution of water standards (and makes it harder to track). https://twitter.com/HugoSAS/status/1295989684045320192
We raised this in front of @CommonsEAC #25yep inquiry & were reassured - no dilution, only 'slip of the pen', same rules would continue to apply. Instead, Gove would continue to use extensions and caveat in Water Framework Directive (which @Feargal_Sharkey has written about).
What does the 25yep have to do with this recent speech you ask? Well, at the time the plan was published so was report on state of English waters...
Clear as day there: if we remove the one out all out rule, then English waters meet the 25YEP target of 75% overnight!
Magic!
Clear as day there: if we remove the one out all out rule, then English waters meet the 25YEP target of 75% overnight!
Magic!
I would not be keeping up with the @BrexitEnv mission of mentioning the devolution angle whenever possible without pointing out the obvious: rivers cross internal UK boundaries.
If Env Agency changes rule for England you could have a prize winning water body on the English side, and a river in crisis on Welsh, Scottish sides. That will surely help with working together against water pollution.
But no need to worry because the 4 UK governments don't think any kind of common framework is needed on water, so everything will be grand and who* needs cooperation anyway?
*Rivers, that's who.
*Rivers, that's who.
