A Bill to make provision about water, including provision about the management of risks in connection with flooding and coastal erosion.
<p>The Bill responds to recent pressure to introduce legislation to address the threat of flooding and water scarcity, both of which are predicted to increase with climate change.</p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>requires the Environment Agency to create a National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy, which a number of organisations will have to follow</li><li>requires leading local flood authorities to create local flood risk management strategies</li><li>enables the Environment Agency and local authorities more easily to carry out flood risk management works</li><li>introduces a more risk-based approach to reservoir management</li><li>changes the arrangements that would apply should a water company go into administration</li><li>enables water companies more easily to control non-essential uses of water, such as the use of hosepipes</li><li>enables water companies to offer concessions to community groups for surface water drainage charges</li><li>requires the use of sustainable drainage systems in certain new developments</li><li>introduces a mandatory building standard for sewers</li></ul>