Water

Introduction to Water

We are responsible for all aspects of water policy in England, including water supply and resources, and the regulatory systems for the water environment and the water industry. These include:

• drinking water quality
• the quality of water in rivers, lakes and estuaries, coastal and marine waters
• sewage treatment; and
• reservoir safety.

Many quality standards are set at European level. We work closely with the Environment Agency, which manages water resources and enforces water quality standards, and the Office of Water Services, which is responsible for economic regulation of the water industry. We also co-ordinate policy for the coastal and marine environment, including international agreements on the North East Atlantic and the North Sea, and policy on inland waterways.

Further details

We have sought to categorise material here on water issues into the following main sections - Water quality, Marine issues, Flood management, Water resources, Water industry, Water conservation. Each has its own index page and introduction, accessed via these links and via the navigation bar on the left.

Recent material across the range of water subjects, together with strategic material that cuts across the above categories, is indexed below.

For quick access to other material on the Defra web site see the following links:

• News Releases (current material, all Defra) - pre-June 2001 see this page
• Defra A-Z Subject Index
• Committees - short cuts to web sites for our advisory committee etc

Latest "Water" material:

• 23 December 2003: Response summary for consultation on Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council policy review

• 8 December 2003: Joint Defra/Ofwat report: Structure of the water industry in England: does it remain fit for purpose?

• 23 September 2003: River water quality headline indicator for sustainable development: 2002 (Statistical Release) also "Morley welcomes new river water figures but says there is more to do" (News Release)

• 4 September 2003: New information on water conservation added

• 12 August 2003: 2004 periodic review of water price limits - joint statement

• 4 August 2003: Water Framework Directive: third consultation paper

• 2 May 2003: Diffuse Water Pollution from Agriculture: the Government's Strategic Review - Discussion document

Water - Strategic Issues

Whilst categorisation of subjects in the inter-linked area of water is inevitably difficult, a number of issues genuinely cut across a wide range of water issues, such as the following material:

• Water Framework Directive

• "Directing the Flow - Priorities for Future Water Policy"
  This policy document seeks to define the Government's strategic vision for the direction of water policy and its place among broader Government objectives in England; and to identify future priorities. See also this News Release (5 November 2002).

• Details of the proposed Water Bill and the work leading up to this

Drinking Water

Audits and inspections of water companies in England and Wales, and enforcement action to ensure compliance with the Water Quality Regulations - including investigation of customer complaints and incidents which affect drinking water supplies - is dealt with by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

• See the Drinking Water Inspectorate web site.

[Note that some information on policy issues such as water supply arrangements and water charging is indexed in our Water Industry section.]

External sites

• OFWAT - the Office of Water Services
• Water UK (representing the regulated water and wastewater industry)
• Water Voice (water company customer issues)
• Environment Agency
• Envirowise - practical environmental advice for business

Contacting Defra

The Environment Agency is responsible for local control and maintenance of water quality, water resources and flood defence in England and Wales, whereas Defra oversees water policy and sets the framework within which the Environment Agency operates. Therefore, for specific enquiries regarding monitoring information or regional or local conditions, please contact the Environment Agency rather than Defra in the first instance.

If you want further information that is not covered by these pages, you can contact us by e-mail at the following addresses: