Water

Issues surrounding water law arise out of balancing the needs of humankind against the needs of the environment. We all need pollution-free water to survive, while water is also essential for domestic and commercial activities. Increasingly there is a cost attached to the environmental aspects of water use, related directly to the amount of water abstracted, consumed, polluted or wasted.

Key legislation

The key legislation for water abstraction and public use is the Water Resources Act 1991, the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Water Act 2003. Under the Water Act 2003, water companies are required to provide water resource management plans. These plans are due to be published for consultation in Spring or Summer 2008. More widely focused, the Government's new Water Strategy considers the management of water resources to balance environmental impacts, water quality, supply and demand, and social and economic effects.

Water strategy for England

Droughts and flooding

The 2004-2006 drought in the south east of England led to a review of drought legislation, while 2007 saw severe flooding in many areas of the UK bringing to the forefront the need to review how best to manage such risks. Water UK, the water industry's representative body, has reviewed the emergency response to the summer floods from the point of view of the industry and its customers, and is now looking at longer-term issues. The Environment Agency published the results of its review in December 2007, while the Association of British Insurers is calling for a 25-year strategy to manage the growing flood risk.

Water Framework Directive

At supra-national level, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires all EU member states to aim to achieve "good ecological and chemical status" in all waterbodies (both groundwater and surface water) by 2015. A first step in implementing the WFD is establishing a river basin district structure within which environmental objectives can be set. The Environment Agency consulted at the end of 2007 on significant water management issues in each river basin district in England or Wales.

Environment Agency Water Framework Directive pages

Defra Water Framework Directive pages

Marine

The Marine and Coastal Access Act was passed in November 2009.

More information on the Marine and Coastal Access Act