Defra, the
Environment Agency and Welsh Assembly Government today published
River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) for ten river basin districts
in England and Wales. The plans set out how good water status will
be achieved for each lake, stretch of a river, estuary or
coastline.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said:
"The River Basin Management Plans show our commitment to
building on the improvements in water quality of our rivers, lakes
and coastlines that we have seen in the last 20 years. The return
of fish species and other wildlife that had previously disappeared
shows what we can do.
"I’m also pleased to announce £1million for the
Environment Agency to bring forward water quality investigations
they have planned in England for the next three years, so we can
find out where the problems are and get on with dealing with them.
In addition, the money available for farmers to tackle
agricultural water pollution will be increased to £7.5million."
Dr Paul Leinster, Environment Agency Chief Executive, said:
"These major plans, approved today by Government, will
help improve over 9,500 miles of rivers across England and Wales
by 2015.
"The quality of rivers in England and Wales continue to
improve. That is why we have seen the return of otters, eels and
salmon to rivers like the Thames, Mersey and Tyne.
"The plans set out actions to tackle sources of
pollution and to help reach challenging new EU standards on water
quality. We will be working hard locally to deliver the plans
alongside farmers, water companies and groups such as the Rivers
Trusts and RSPB, who also have a key role to play."
Welsh Assembly Government Environment Minister Jane Davidson said:
"It is our duty to ensure the quality of our rivers are
maintained and protected for future generations. These plans set
out how we intend to achieve this so our waterways are a healthy,
thriving environment for both mankind and wildlife."
The Water Framework Directive changes how we measure water
quality in England. Water status is measured by examining the
ecological and chemical make-up of the water and the standard
required to reach ‘good status’ is common across Europe. Although
the previous assessment method showed a trend of improving water
quality, the new assessment process is significantly more challenging.
To meet these tough targets, everyone will need to play their
part – including water companies, farming groups, industry and NGOs.
Currently the most common causes of water pollution are run off
from rural and urban land and discharge of waste water from
industry and sewage overflows. The Government and Environment
Agency is working closely with farmers, businesses and water
companies to reduce pollution and improve water quality.
The RBMPs detail how the target water status will be achieved for
each river, lake, estuary, coastline and groundwater in England
and Wales and have been developed in by the Environment Agency
working with co-deliverers, who will also carry out actions within
the plans.
Recent key achievements in water quality include:
* Otters, salmon and other wildlife are returning to many rivers
for the first time since the industrial revolution.
* Otters can now be found in every English county
* The River Mersey, once the most polluted river in Europe, is
the cleanest it has been for a century. Salmon have now returned
to the river.
Notes to Editors
1. The ten river basins are: Thames, South East, South West,
Anglian, Severn, Dee, Western Wales, North West, Humber,
Northumbria and the Solway Tweed. The Solway Tweed is shared with
Scotland and the Dee and Severn are shared with Wales.
2. The additional £1million to bring forward water quality
investigations will give a better understanding of what causes
water quality problems, how to deal with them, and take action to
resolve them sooner.
3. £7.5million (an increase of 50%) will be available to help
farmers in priority catchments for low-cost farm infrastructure
improvements to tackle agricultural diffuse water pollution. Part
of the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative
(ECFSDI) will be brought into the Rural Development Programme for
England subject to approval by the Programme Monitoring Committee
and the European Commission. Grants are for projects such as
fences, gates, and to manage run-off, drainage water, dirty water
and sediments. They will continue to be delivered by Natural England.
4. The Environment Agency is the competent authority in England
and Wales for implementing the Water Framework Directive.
5. Under the EU Water Framework Directive Members States are
required to draw up a River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) for each
river basin district by 22 December 2009. The aim is to prevent
deterioration in water status; and to aim to achieve ‘good status’
by 2015 in WFD water bodies. The plans are available at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd
6. Under the Directive alternative objectives (than Good by 2015)
may be set provided certain tests are met.
7. In addition to the plans set out today, over £4 billion is to
be invested by the water industry in England and Wales to fund
environmental improvements in the five years to 2015, overseen by
the Environment Agency
8. The previous assessment method, the General Quality Assessment
of Rivers showed that for England:
* 72 per cent of river length was of good biological quality in
2008, the same as 2007 and 2006.
* 79 per cent of river length was of good chemical quality in
2008, up from 76 per cent in 2007.
Contacts:
Defra Press Office
Phone: 020 7238 5608
NDS.DEFRA@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Tom Briggs
Phone: 020 7238 6140
tom.briggs@defra.gsi.gov.uk