Environmental information requests

In 2015, all water and sewerage undertakers in England and Wales became subject to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. This includes Anglian Water Services Limited.

On 20 February 2015, the Upper Tribunal handed down judgment in the matter of Fish Legal & Emily Shirley v Information Commissioner & Others [2015] UKUT 0052 (AAC), which makes all water and sewerage undertakers in England and Wales subject to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

On this page you’ll find information about the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), including how to make EIR requests.

Visit our Being Transparent page to find published EIR responses, and information about our EIR performance.

What is Environmental Information?

The definition of ‘environmental information’ is very broad. The Environmental Information Regulations say it includes any information in written, visual, audio, electronic or any other material form on:

elements of the environment, such as air and atmosphere, water, soil, land, landscape and natural sites including wetlands, coastal and marine areas, biological diversity and its components, including genetically modified organisms, and the interaction among these elements
factors, such as substances, energy, noise, radiation or waste, including radioactive waste, emissions, discharges and other releases into the environment, affecting or likely to affect the environment
measures, such as policies, legislation, plans, programmes, environmental agreements, and activities affecting or likely to affect the elements
reports on the implementation of environmental legislation
cost benefit and other economic analyses and assumptions; and
the state of human health and safety, including the contamination of the food chain, where relevant, conditions of human life, cultural sites and built structures inasmuch as they are or may be affected by the state of the elements of the environment.

How to Request Environmental Information

Requests for environmental information can be made by contacting us:

In writing: Anglian Water Services Ltd, Legal Services, Lancaster House, Lancaster Way, Ermine Business Park, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 6XU

Email: EIR@anglianwater.co.uk

Please be as specific as possible in outlining the nature of the information you require.  If a request is too general, we may ask you for clarification. We will respond to all requests in accordance with the Environmental Information Regulations.

Timescale for Responding to Requests

Environmental information requests are usually forwarded to our specialist EIR Team who will answer your query. We’ll respond to requests in accordance with the Environmental Information Regulations, as soon as possible and no later than within 20 working days of receipt of the request. However, please note that this period may be extended if the information requested is highly complex or voluminous, or if clarification is needed. Should this be the case, we’ll notify you as soon as possible after receiving your request.

The Environmental Information Regulations contain a series of 'exceptions' to disclosure, which allow for the refusal to disclose information in some circumstances. If we’re unable to provide information, we’ll explain why.

Charging Policy

In some cases, there may be a reasonable charge for providing environmental information, however, no charge will be made for the provision of information and publications already made available by Anglian Water, advising on the availability of information or examining information on Anglian Water premises.

Our charges are based upon Information Commissioner’s guidance. Our charging policy is as follows:

staff time spent locating, retrieving and extracting the information requested - charged at a rate of £25 per hour
printing or copying the requested information - charged at a rate of 10p per page
postage fees will also be charged at cost - all documents will be sent 2nd Class Post

If a charge exceeds £50, we’ll ask for payment in advance. Once we have notified you of any charges, you’ll have 60 days to make the payment. If we don’t receive payment within that period, we will not proceed with the request.

If you believe you shouldn’t have to pay a charge, please provide details when you make your request and we’ll considered whether we are willing to waive the charges.

Making a Complaint

If you aren't happy with the way in which your request for environmental information has been handled, you have the right to make a complaint. Please set out the reasons for your complaint in writing to:

Legal Director, Anglian Water Services Ltd, Lancaster House, Lancaster Way, Ermine Business Park, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire CPE29 6XU, or

EIR@anglianwater.co.uk

Your complaint will be investigated and a response sent to you.

More about the Environmental Information Regulations

You can find out more about the Environmental Information Regulations on the ICO’s website here.

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