Managing and improving the water environment

Water for life and livelihoods: river basin management plans

Working through river basin management plans, the WFD requires that waters (including rivers, lakes, groundwaters, estuaries and coastal waters) are managed sustainably. Good status for each type of water body is defined by a set of biological, chemical and physical standards.

• Introduction to the Water Framework Directive

Only 27% of England’s water bodies are currently classified as being of ‘good status’ or 'potential'.

After a major programme of investigations at thousands of sites across England, the Environment Agency has a good understanding of why waters fail to achieve good status. This evidence is being used to protect and improve waters.

River basin management planning

The WFD requires a management plan to be drawn up for each river basin district. The plans need to be reviewed and updated every six years. River basin management plans were first published in 2009.

• River basin management plans

The plans are currently being updated. You can help improve the quality of the revised plans by providing information and advice and committing to deliver the objectives of the WFD:

• River basin management planning consultations
  
  
• Which river basin district am I in (PDF, 162KB)

Catchment based approach

The catchment based approach focuses on improving the water environment at a local level. Catchment partnerships coordinate action by local communities to protect and enhance the water environment. Information and actions will be incorporated into river basin management plans.

Find out about the Environment Agency’s work to set up and support these partnerships, including funding available and how you can get involved:

• Catchment based approach for a healthier environment

Accessing and supplying data

Evidence is important for making decisions about how to protect the water environment. We try to make as much information publicly available as possible:

• WFD data