Event: All‑Party Parliamentary Water Group (APPG Water) – River Health Parliamentary Session

Date: May 2023

Location: UK Parliament, Westminster (Hybrid session)

Type of CPD: Policy engagement / environmental governance / strategic sector insight

Duration: 1–2 hours (plus preparation and follow‑up)

Summary of the Event

I attended the May 2023 meeting of the All‑Party Parliamentary Water Group (APPG Water), which focused on the state of river health across England, the drivers of ecological decline, and the actions required from government, regulators, water companies and environmental organisations to restore river systems.

The session brought together MPs, peers, Ofwat, the Environment Agency, water companies, NGOs and sector experts. Discussions centred on pollution from storm overflows, agricultural runoff, wastewater treatment performance, monitoring gaps, and the need for greater transparency and accountability.

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to contribute perspectives on how real‑time monitoring and biological insight can strengthen understanding of river conditions and support more effective environmental protection.

Key Themes Covered

• State of river health in England Ecological decline, pollution pressures, nutrient loading and habitat degradation.
• Storm overflows and wastewater impacts Monitoring expectations, transparency, enforcement and investment needs.
• Agricultural and diffuse pollution Catchment‑scale challenges and the need for integrated solutions.
• Monitoring and data transparency Expanding real‑time monitoring, improving data quality and enabling public access.
• Regulatory expectations and PR24 Environmental outcomes, performance commitments and long‑term planning.
• Collaboration and governance The role of parliament, regulators, utilities and NGOs in driving improvement.