Significant water management issues

Overview

We urgently need to protect and improve our waters and find a better balance that meets the needs of people and nature.

Water keeps us alive, drives our economy and sustains wildlife.

Our rivers, lakes, canals, coasts and groundwater, and the essential services they provide society, are worth billions of pounds to the UK economy. 

However, wildlife and the benefits we get from our waters are threatened by the damage we are causing through development, industry, flood protection and agriculture. The climate crisis is adding to these pressures and without concerted action will lead to irreparable harm to our planet, ourselves and future generations.

This consultation covers all the river basin districts (RBDs) that are entirely in England, and the Severn and Northumbria RBDs which lie partly in Wales and Scotland respectively. The data and information presented in the main body of this report is for England only. Further information on RBDs, including the management of significant water management issues across Wales, can be found in the Supporting Information section of the consultation.

Why we are consulting

We are seeking your views on the significant water management issues which present challenges to the health of our water environment.

By responding to this consultation you will be helping to shape the management of the water environment. The information gathered through this consultation will help us update the current river basin management plans

Over the next two years we will be reviewing and updating the river basin management plans. This will include reviewing and updating the environmental objectives for every water body and the programmes of measures needed to achieve those objectives.

Legislation requires that the updated plans and programmes of measures for each river basin district will be published by 22 December 2027.

The Significant water management issues consultation is an important step in this process. We are seeking your views on what needs to be done to tackle the significant issues affecting the water environment.

We will use your responses to help us consider how some of the current approaches to the management of water will need to change in response to a changing climate.

• A glossary of the terms used in this consultation is available on the River basin planning online glossary
• For information and data about your local area, visit the catchment data explorer

Navigating the consultation

This consultation has a section dedicated to each of the significant water management issues. Each section has a summary, links to more detailed information and questions we would like your feedback on. You do not have to respond to all questions. Only respond to those that you’d like us to consider your feedback. The Environment Agency have determined the significant management issues with partners based on data analysis, which is detailed in the Evidence section of the consultation. If you think we have overlooked a significant issue, let us know by answering the question in that section.

Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Reports

Alongside this consultation we have also published Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Reports on Gov.uk. Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a process that ensures consideration is given to the environment during the development of certain plans and programmes. These reports set out the approach that will be taken for the SEAs in each river basin district in the update to the RBMPs. There are 2 questions on these reports in the Supporting Information section of this consultation.

Please click on the 'online consultation' link below to access the consultation.