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.

Latest "water" material

• 16 June 2006 - updated drought information
• 1 March 2006: Area of water scarcity status: Folkestone and Dover Water Services' application
• 31 January 2006: Consultation on Water Resources Management Regulations
• 9 November 2005: England's bathing water quality better than ever before

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).

• Water Act 2003

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 website.

[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)
• Consumer Council for Water (water company customer issues)
• Environment Agency
• Envirowise - practical environmental advice for business
• UK Groundwater Forum (aims to raise the awareness of groundwater and the role it plays in supporting the environment and in water supply)
• Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management - professional and examining body committed to the sustainable management and development of water and the environment

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 email at the following addresses: