Invasive species rules to cost water sector ‘more than £7.5m’ a year

Invasive non-native species (INNS) regulations are likely to cost the water industry more than £7.5m a year, according to new research.

The findings were published in a report by water industry research body UKWIR on 26 October.

It says new regulations that require landowners to prevent, control and eradicate INNS and that include liabilities for passing species from one party to another, pose “significant compliance, financial, operational and reputational risks to water companies”.