How has the NEP changed between previous versions and now?
Some measures may have dropped out since the initial NEP and some have been added following further investigation and discussion with water companies or because of changes to regulatory requirements. Additional measures have come in where there have been new regulatory requirements or where we have new evidence from monitoring or investigations, since April 2008, that show further action is required. The main changes to the NEP are: • Actions to address water quality issues in relation to the Water Framework Directive, the Bathing Water Directive, the Shellfish Waters Directive and environmental permitting regulations. • Investigations to determine where water company abstractions may impact on the ecology of a water, as set out in the Water Framework Directive. • A clearer opportunity for water companies to adopt catchment management approaches. This is where water companies can improve water quality or water resource by changing how the land that is near water is used, rather than by
