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Water
On this page:
1. Why is water important?
2. Coastal issues
3. Rivers canals and lakes
4. Water efficiency and drought
5. Water supply and drainage/sewage
6. Private water supplies
7. Bathing waters
8. European legislation - Water Framework Directive
9. How the water industry is regulated
10. Latest News
1. Why is water important?
Local authorities can play a major role in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), and especially the drawing up of River Basin Management Plans. There is a need for local leadership to make connections across the numerous activities which have an impact on water. Local authorities are uniquely placed to facilitate partnerships and strategy, and make the links to other related local issues, which will enable lasting protection for our water supply and quality. The LGA's Greening Communities action pack contains ideas for local authorities to tackle the many pressures facing water supply and quality.
Defra 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
- Reservoir safety
At European level, Defra 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.
Water is a big and complex issue so the main issues are broken down into sections 2-9 below:
2. Coastal issues (including flooding, erosion and adapting to climate change)
LGA's Coastal Special Interest Group aims to ensure that the UKhas the best managed coast in Europe, and to identify appropriate and sustainable funding strategies to support this aim. The Group has recently responded to Government consultations on "Making Space for Water" (developing a new Government strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England), Integrated Coastal Zone Management and the Marine Bill. The Groups' responses and further information about coastal issues can be found on LGA's Coastal Special Interest Group web pages. Coastnet are an international networking organisation that works with all coastal interests to promote and exchange ideas, information and expertise to find long term solutions to coastal issues. CoastWeb is a unique and intelligent coastal and marine portal, developed and managed by CoastNet covering global as well UKissues.
3. Rivers, canals and lakes (including the good (e.g. local leisure features) and bad (e.g. flooding)
British Waterways is responsible for managing around half of the UK's rivers and canals. Their aim is to create an expanded, vibrant, largely self-sufficient waterway network and to double the number of users by 2012.
The Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA) Link represents all the many land owners and authorities which own or operate inland waterways in the UK. The AINA provides a single voice on waterway management issues and aims to facilitate the management, maintenance and development of the inland waterways as an economic, environmental, recreational and social resource. The Association promotes good practice, represents the views of its members to Government and other organisations and helps to develop a common management approach and service standard for all waterway users. Their recently published Action Plan for 2005/6-2007/8 identifies the important issues now facing navigation authorities in the context of recent legislative developments.
4. Water Efficiency and Drought (including Sustainable Buildings and working with householders and local businesses)
Towards the end of 2006 the UKhad experienced the driest 15 month period since 1933. At the same time we are using more water than ever before. The government has set a target for water consumption of: 9.3m3 per person per year with a best-practice target of: 6.4m3 per person per year. The current UKwater usage figure is on average, per person, per day, 150 litres equalling 9,066,218,550 litres for the entire population. It is estimated that the UKpublic sector could save 1.2 billion cubic metres of water each year by implementing basic efficiency measures.
Authorities can prepare supplementary guidance on water efficiency. Enfield Council requires high standards of efficiency, such as dual flush toilets, restricted flow controls and water meters and also encourages rainwater and greywater recycling in their planning guidance. For more information see the link to Enfieldcouncil and to the LGA and partners in the Planning Policies for Sustainable Building report.
Envirowise is a government funded programme offering free advice, workshops and good practice case studies to businesses to help them to reduce their resource use. They work with businesses in all sectors to improve water efficiency through practical and cost saving actions.
Watermark works with organisations to reduce water use by comparing water usage with that of similar organisations. They offer advice, implement water saving measures and even arrange for entire water systems and bills to be monitored and managed by experts, to meet Government Environmental Targets quickly.
Waterwise is an independent NGO, partly funded by the water industry. It was set up in 2005 with the purpose of developing a model framework for sustained water efficiency in the UKfor all use of mains water and to reverse the upward trend in per capita consumption by 2010. It aims to achieve this by working closely with government, the water industry and business. Its work programme includes large-scale water efficiency projects, new resource developments, embedding water efficiency within the built environment, and enabling industry to use water efficient business solutions.
The Environment Agency has set up a 'Beat the Drought' programme with water companies in the South of England. This aims to beat drought problems by working together to make the best use of available water resources. The programme includes work to reduce water leakage and spending a combined £16 million on engineering schemes, to maximise water resources and more easily move water around the region. The companies are also planning to spend a further £555 million on long term water resources schemes, including new reservoir options, desalination and effluent re-use.
The Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) provide very useful information, on the benefits of water efficiency and re-use. CIWEM provide several topical links to alternative water supplies.
5. Water Supply and Drainage/Sewage (including pollution control, agricultural land (nitrogen pollution) and bathing water issues)
CIRIA is an independent organisation representing all parts of the supply chains of the modern built environment from building and civil engineering to transport and utilities infrastructure. CIRIA undertakes research and training that seek to raise the standard of excellence in the construction sector and prevent pollution and contamination of water supply.
In Englandand Wales the Office of Water Services (OFWAT) has the duty to protect customers' interests while ensuring that the water companies finance and carry out their functions properly. Ofwat also sets water prices. For Scottish Water, this duty lies with the Water Commissioner; in Northern Irelandit is met by government.
The water industry depends upon the natural environment in order to provide water and recycle wastewater. In Northern Irelandenvironmental impact is regulated by the Department of the Environment, in Scotlandvia the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and in Englandand Walesby the Environment Agency
As well as the many thousands of tests for drinking water quality carried out by water companies themselves, supplies are continually monitored to EU and UKstandards - by a department of government in Northern Ireland, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator in Scotlandand the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) in Englandand Wales.
Within the workplace, government health and safety regulators ensure protection of people - the Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland and the Health and Safety Commission in Britain.
Non-government agencies, including consumer organisations and environmental stakeholders, also play a large part in informing water policy and practice across the sector.
10. Latest News
Draft Floods and Water Bill
The Government has announced its intention to publish a draft Floods and Water Bill and public consultation in Spring 2009. The aim of the Bill is to revise, modernise and consolidate existing legislation covering flooding, land drainage, coastal erosion and reservoir safety, as recommended by the Pitt Review. An LGA briefing on the expected Bill is available here.
Flooding
The LGA has published the results of a survey of 81 local authorities affected by the floods last summer. The survey had a 100% response rate and looks at the long term impacts and recovery issues which authorities are still dealing with. The survey is available on the LGA website.
An LGA debate on flooding on 13 February was attended by over 80 officers and members from flood affected authorities. Speakers included Sir Michael Pitt, senior flood management experts from the Environment Agency, Defra, Association of Drainage Authorities, Water UKand the ABI as well as local authorities. Presentations from the debate are available on the LGA website.
Learning Lessons from the 2007 Floods - the Pitt Review Final Report
Sir Michael Pitt's independent Review into the summer 2007 floods was published on 25 June. This LGA briefing gives an outline of the main recommendations, implications for local authorities and LGA views. The Report calls on the Government to take a more 'strategic role' in making the case for adaptation to climate change and highlights the role of local authorities in improving adaptation to cope with extreme weather.
The LGA briefing can be downloaded here.
