Find out about compliance and prevention
What are Compliance Assessment Reports (CARs)?
A Compliance Assessment Report records the outcome of an inspection or assessment against a company's environmental permit.
We use CARs to record non-compliance, specify the corrective action required and track whether improvements have been made.
They are often the first step in preventing small issues from becoming more serious environmental problems.
Why we use them: To identify issues early and secure prompt improvements before pollution occurs.
What are Warning and Advisory Interventions?
Not all non-compliance requires formal enforcement action. In some circumstances, we provide advice, guidance or warnings to help operators understand their obligations and address issues quickly.
These interventions make clear what improvements are required and what may happen if problems continue.
Why we use them: To encourage compliance and resolve issues quickly where formal sanctions may not be necessary.
What are Pollution Incident Reduction Plans (PIRPs)?
Pollution Incident Reduction Plans require water companies to identify the root causes of pollution incidents, explain how risks will be reduced and report publicly on progress.
These plans are designed to move the sector from reacting to pollution towards preventing it.
Why we use them: To address the underlying causes of pollution and drive long-term improvements in environmental performance.