The new government has set out details of the provisions in the Water (Special Measures) Bill and how they are intended to apply.

The policy statement includes details on provisions which will enable government and regulators to:

• block bonuses for executives who pollute our waterways
• bring criminal charges against persistent law breakers
• enable automatic and severe fines for wrongdoing
• ensure monitoring of every sewage outlet

Read the government’s press release and the Secretary of State’s speech.

In the speech, Steve Reed championed the need for investment and pledged that his government will “create the conditions needed in a well-regulated private sector model to attract the global investment required to rebuild our broken water infrastructure”.

Reed made it clear that further legislation would follow, after a full review of the water regime has been conducted “that will fundamentally transform how our entire water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good”. He said details would be set out in autumn, but ruled out nationalisation.

The announcements have been welcomed by the Environment Agency, who said it was “an opportunity to step up our regulation and the government’s ambition to drive through much needed reform” and by CIWEM, who said it was “a welcome statement of authority for government and its regulators that provides a foundation on which to review the wider sector, bear down on all sources of pollution and build the health and resilience of our rivers, lakes and seas”.

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