Have your say on the future of water

The water in our environment faces pressure from people, from agriculture, from industry and from the changing climate. Significant progress has been made over the last 20 years in improving the quality of our water. Plans are now being consulted on that set out how our water and wetlands will improved over the next 20 years.

Together with liaison panels of representatives from various sectors, the Environment Agency has produced detailed draft River Basin Management Plans which propose a new way of working to improve the quality of water for all 11 river basin districts in England and Wales. These river basin district liaison panels are made up of representatives from business, planning authorities, environmental organisations, consumers, navigation, fishing and recreation bodies and central, regional and local government.

For the first six months of 2009 the Environment Agency is holding a wide-ranging consultation so that you can see exactly what’s being planned in your area to implement environmental improvements and help us to refine and improve these plans. You are invited to read and respond to the consultation at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd. Events are also being held across the country to invite people to give their views. This is your water environment, and your opportunity to shape it for generations to come.

The draft River Basin Management Plans describe the main issues for the river basin district and highlights some key actions proposed for dealing with them. There are annexes to the documents which give more detail on the conditions in the river basin district, the actions proposed and the mechanisms that can be used to take forward these actions.