Stop pollutants contaminating our water
Stop pollutants contaminating our water
Our waterways continue to be polluted by industry, agriculture and the urban environment. Treating the impact of pollution with energy-intensive technology rather than tackling the cause hits people’s water bills and drives up carbon emissions. To date little has been done to mitigate pollution from land and threats from new chemicals continue to emerge.
Introduce targeted regulations to reduce harmful pollutants in water.
- By 2012, the chemical production and retail industries should fund independent risk assessments and monitoring strategies for substances of high concern.
- By 2012, the Government and its agencies should designate waters at high risk from diffuse pollution as candidate Water Protection Zones and regulate if voluntary action fails to meet required standards by 2015.
- By 2012, the Government should introduce comprehensive measures to control pesticide pollution including statutory safeguard zones and catchment based approvals for high risk pesticides.
- By 2015, the Government should ban phosphates in all domestic and commercial cleaning products.
- By 2015, the Government and its agencies should complete catchment scale monitoring and evaluation of sediment pollution risk and introduce effective measures to protect sensitive habitats and species.
- By 2015, the Government should introduce reduction targets for pesticides and endocrine-disrupting chemicals released into the aquatic environment.
Blueprint members will work with Government, industry and land managers to identify species and habitats at high pollution risk, the measures required to tackle problems and the policy and funding frameworks to ensure action is taken.
