Commentary on provisions of the Act Section 5: Nature-based solutions
This section inserts provisions into the Water Industry Act 1991 ("the 1991 Act") that require sewerage undertakers to explain in their drainage and sewerage management plans, the use that is to be made of nature-based solutions, technologies and facilities within their drainage and sewerage systems.
	A drainage and sewerage management plan is the plan for how the sewerage undertaker will manage and develop its drainage system and sewerage system so as to be able, and continue to be able, to meet its obligations under Part IV of the 1991 Act.
	The drainage and sewerage management plan must address a number of specific matters, including:
the capacity of the undertaker’s drainage and sewerage systems;
an assessment of the current and future demands on the systems;
the resilience of the systems;
the measures the undertaker proposes to take or continue (and the sequence and timing of those measures) to meet its obligations under Part IV of the 1991 Act and relevant environmental risks; and
how those risks are to be mitigated.
	The new requirement (s.94A(3)(ea)) is enforceable under existing powers in section 18 of the 1991 Act.