Speaking at a debate in London attended by Utility Week’s sister title edie, Juniper said the dramatic improvement in sea water quality, river water quality, and waste disposal and recycling had been largely driven by rules negotiated in Brussels.
He said: “People in the water sector know that we’re going to have to implement the so-called Water Framework Directive to achieve good quality aquatic ecosystems across the UK.
“This means cleaning up the sewage even more, it means getting the pesticides out of the water courses, it means looking after water resources so that rivers flow even in times of low rainfall.”
In order to do this, the sector will have to spend “an awful lot of money” investing in things like upgrading the Victorian sewer network.
However, companies will only invest if they see a long-term regulatory framework, Juniper warned. “Why would you invest £10 million in a new treatment facility when the rules may not require it in three years’ time? It’s disastrous.”
At the same event, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas told edie that Brexit was “a frightening prospect” for Britain’s environment, and would result in energy policies being rolled back, demand for environmental experts dropping and Britain’s voice on international climate change negotiations being lost.
Energy Secretary Amber Rudd warned in January that voting to leave in the upcoming referendum would plunge the energy market into uncertainty, and, in March, she said leaving the EU and exiting the internal energy market could cost the UK £500 million or more each year.
Energy suppliers have also warned against a possible Brexit. Centrica boss Iain Conn warned that it would harm Britain’s energy interests, as the country would no longer be able to influence policy, and SSE said it would increase the risk in its business if there is a prolonged period of legislative or regulatory uncertainty.
The referendum vote on EU membership is due to take place there on 23 June.