Guidance

Water and sewerage companies: EPA methodology for 2026 to 2030

How the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales complete the annual Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) of water and sewerage companies in England and Wales.

• From: Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales
• Published: 15 October 2025

Applies to England and Wales

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland

Documents

1. Introduction to EPA methodology

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2. Definitions of the live EPA metrics

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3. RAG thresholds for EPA metrics

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4. Rating system

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5. Summary of EPA differences between the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales

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6. Reporting for 2026 to 2030 data

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7. Shadow EPA metrics

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8. Forward look and future reporting

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Appendix 1: Numeric rating scenario tables

ODT, 288 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Details

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales introduced the EPA in 2011. It is a non-statutory tool for comparing performance between the 10 largest water and sewerage companies operating in England and Wales.

The regulators share this EPA methodology with water and sewerage companies. It is published here for interested members of the public and stakeholders.

This is version A of the EPA methodology.

The EPA for the 9 water and sewerage companies operating wholly or mainly in England is published by the Environment Agency on GOV.UK. It forms part of a report, produced annually, on the environmental performance of the water and sewerage companies in England.

Natural Resources Wales publishes an annual performance report for Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water) containing their EPA.

Published 15 October 2025