Water resources
Information on water resources, including policy on abstraction licensing (the taking of water supplies from watercourses), drought and reservoir safety, is published here.
Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government have policy responsibility for water resources in England and Wales. There is the need to effectively manage water resources, as there is increasing pressure on water supply brought about by changes in societal demand, population increase, changing household patterns and by climate change.
We work closely with the Environment Agency, who manage water resources and enforce water quality standards.
See also
Page last modified: 25 September 2008