Water Quality

Information on water supply and drinking water is indexed separately.

General

• 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) - 23 September 2003

• "River Quality Continues Steady Improvement" (News Release) - see also River Water Quality Headline Indicator (Statistical News Release) - 3 October 2002

Current consultations

• Consultation on the Sewerage Undertakers (Pollution Inventory) Directions 2003 consultation (closing date 18 February 2004)
• Water Framework Directive - third consultation (closing date 27 October 2003)

Water Framework Directive

• Water Framework Directive
  • Scoping Study for Water Framework Directive Annex III (Economic Analysis): Summary Report (200 KB)
  • Water Framework Directive Third Consultation Paper (for comments by 27 October 2003) - see also this News Release (4 August 2003)
  • Water Framework Directive Second Consultation Paper
  • Regulatory Impact Assessment - Priority List of Substances Under Article 16 of the Water Framework Directive
  • Common Implementation Strategy
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Diffuse Pollution from Agriculture

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

Nitrates

• Nitrates - reducing water pollution from agriculture NVZ web pages: Implementation of the Nitrates Directive and new Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in England. Advice for farmers on Action Programme measures (came into force 19 December 2002).

Bathing Waters

• Bathing Waters including proposals for revision of the Bathing Water Directive

Freshwater Fish Directive

• The EC Freshwater Fish Directive (78/659/EEC), seeks to protect those fresh water bodies identified by Member States as waters suitable for sustaining fish populations. New designations under this Directive have been made adding over 14,500 km of rivers and canals and 14,000 ha of still waters.
  • Consultation on proposed new designations under the Freshwater Fish Directive (78/659/EEC) (closing date 8 September 2003)

Shellfish Waters Directive

• The EC Shellfish Waters Directive (79/923/EEC), seeks to protect or improve shellfish waters identified by Member States in order to support shellfish life and growth and thus contribute to the high quality of edible shellfish products.

Sewage treatment and disposal

Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

• Sewage treatment

• Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

• Report "Sewage Treatment in the UK: Sensitive Areas September 2002"

Sewage Sludge

• Research report on use of sewage sludge to agricultural land

• Proposals to amend the statutory controls for the agricultural use of sludge - consultation paper (closing date: 21 January 2003)

Economic Instruments - consultations

• Water Pollution Discharges: Economic Instruments
• Economic Instruments for Water Pollution

Preventing water pollution: Oil storage, Groundwater

• Guidance note for the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001

• Groundwater Information:
• Guidance on the Groundwater Regulations 1998
• Groundwater Protection Code - Use and Disposal of Sheep Dip

• Groundwater Protection Code: Petrol stations and other fuel dispensing facilities involving underground storage tanks

• Draft Groundwater Protection Code for the Use of Solvents - Consultation (closing date 20 March 2003)

Other material

• Water Quality. A Guide to Water Protection in England