The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017

Charges for water services

21.—(1) The appropriate authority must ensure—

(a) that water pricing policies provide adequate incentives to use water resources efficiently, and

(b) an adequate contribution by industry, households and agriculture, and such other sectors as the appropriate authority considers appropriate, to the recovery of the costs of water services, based on the economic analysis conducted under regulation 7.

(2) In complying with paragraph (1), the appropriate authority—

(a) must take account of environmental and resource costs and the polluter pays principle;

(b) may have regard to the social, environmental and economic effects of the cost recovery and the geographical and climatic conditions of the region or regions affected.

(3) The appropriate authority may, in accordance with established practices, disapply paragraph (1) in relation to a particular water use activity, provided the authority considers that this does not otherwise compromise the purposes and achievement of the objectives of the WFD.