Guidance

River basin management plans, updated 2022: challenges for the water environment

Updated 22 December 2022

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2022

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1. Introduction

In 2019, the Environment Agency consulted on the most important challenges to the current and potential future uses and benefits of the water environment. A summary of the responses received can be found in the Challenge and Choices consultation response document. The challenges are the main issues that limit the uses and potential benefits of managing the water environment in a sustainable way. They have been identified based on the results of public consultation and assessments of the pressures caused by people now, in the past, and predicted in the future.

Many rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries and coasts are degraded and damaged by development, industry, agriculture, and modifications to provide flood protection. Climate change and a growing population are adding to these pressures and without concerted action now will lead to irreversible impacts for future generations.

These challenges that affect waters across England are briefly described in this document. Each challenge text links to more detailed information including, documents detailing the pressures and other associated information related to that challenge.

You can also learn how you can help at home by watching the Small Changes, Big Picture films and get involved with your local catchment partnership.

2. Climate emergency

Climate change is caused by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions which are causing global heating. Global average temperatures have increased over the 20th century and are now over 1°C warmer than the pre-industrial average. This is resulting in sea level rise and extreme weather related events, such as storms, floods, heat waves, droughts and wildfires. This threatens lives and livelihoods, wildlife and the provision of key goods and services that the water environment provides such as drinking water, recreation, navigation, and fisheries.

Reducing the impact of climate change and putting in place measures to adapt to it are critical. Action must be taken now. Everybody needs to work collaboratively to build resilience to future warming scenarios through long-term and evidence-based planning.

Climate change intensifies the impact of other pressures acting on the water environment:

  • raised temperatures, extreme weather, and lower summer river flows and drought, impact the viability and diversity of terrestrial and freshwater habitats and species
    • thresholds or tipping points may be crossed, with irreversible consequences for species decline
    • the spread of invasive non-native invasive species and plant and animal diseases will increase
  • hotter, drier summers are increasing pressure on competing demands for water resources, that is between public water supply, agriculture, industry, development, recreation and the environment
    • lower summer river flows will mean less water is available for dilution and dispersion of pollutants such as nutrients, contaminated sediments and heavy metals
    • the longer nutrients stay in a water body, the greater the risks from eutrophication and algal blooms
  • increased rainfall intensity and frequency of flooding can lead to increased runoff of pollutants from land and more storm overflows from combined sewerage systems
  • thermal pollution of rivers, for example from cooling water systems, in combination with warming from climate change, can result in the remobilisation and increased bioavailability of contaminants
  • physical modifications to rivers and coasts over many years have altered the natural functioning of catchments – this has restricted the ability of rivers, estuaries and coasts to naturally adapt to the impacts of climate change
    • this increases flood risks, reduces groundwater recharge, and the risk of saline intrusion
    • physical modifications may increase in some areas as more flood defences are built to cope with changes in rainfall patterns, flows and erosion

Climate change represents a risk that measures to improve or protect the water environment will not perform as intended over their lifetime due to both the changing pressures described above and the potential for direct physical impacts on people or assets involved in delivery.

For further information on this challenge, see the Climate emergency: challenges for the water environment document.

3. Biodiversity crisis

The combination of climate change, how land, water and seas are used and managed and how nature is valued have led to a major crisis for nature – a biodiversity crisis.

The United Kingdom has lost 90% of its wetland habitats in the last 100 years, and over 10% of the freshwater and wetland species are threatened with extinction. These rare and valuable habitats are degraded, for example only 17% of chalk streams currently meet good ecological status. Urgent action is needed to deal with the loss of species and habitats.

Some of the most important habitats and species are specially protected, including through designation as sites of special scientific interest and habitats sites (Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas). Many of these sites are reliant on having enough, and suitable quality water to sustain their special habitats and species. However, many have become isolated by, and in some cases their ecology damaged or threatened by, land and water use, and other issues such as invasive non-native species. These pressures can act either directly on the sites or within their wider catchments.

Action must be taken to reduce the pressures the country’s habitats and species face and increase their quantity, quality and connectedness.

Urgent action is needed to reduce the pressures these habitats and species are facing and to increase their quantity, quality and connectedness so biodiversity can thrive. This will in turn improve resilience to climate impacts.

For further information on this challenge, see the Biodiversity: challenges for the water environment and European site protected areas: challenges for the water environment documents.

4. Physical modifications

For thousands of years people have physically modified rivers, estuaries, lakes and the coastline to support farming, industry, transport, including shipping, and by building places to live. Some of those physical changes are still essential. They help to protect us from flooding and support the abstraction of raw water for drinking water supply and the production of the food we eat. Other changes have helped create the iconic landscapes and architecture many people value. But as rivers have been diverted, covered and straightened, and our coastlines and lake shores modified, the environment has also been damaged.

The legacy of structures and other changes means many waters and their adjacent landscapes do not provide healthy habitats for wildlife. Additionally, many are unable to adapt to future changes, such as flooding, erosion and drought. This places greater pressure on our water management efforts.

For further information on this challenge see the following documents:

5. Pollution from agriculture and rural areas

Rivers, streams and groundwaters are an essential part of rural life and the rural economy. However, the way farmers manage land, livestock, and use fertilisers and pesticides is a major reason why rivers and groundwaters are polluted.

Farming and rural land use is ever changing. The farming industry faces big challenges as it adapts to future political reality, the impact of world events on costs and to climate change. Farmers need to farm more sustainably to ensure soils, air, and water quality improve and are protected whilst still producing food for us all.

For further information on this challenge, see the following documents:

6. Pollution from water industry waste water

The water industry plays a vital role in making sure that waste water from homes and businesses is effectively treated and returned to the environment. Waste water pollution has in the past damaged rivers, streams and coastal waters very badly, but the situation has improved a lot in the last 30 years. This is because the water industry has invested its customer’s money in better collection and treatment systems and improved how they work with local people.

Despite these improvements, water industry activities are still identified as one of the main reasons why the water environment is not in a good enough condition. Some of this is because of pressures linked to population growth, climate change and urban creep. Work is continuing to address these problems but more is needed. The water industry needs to further improve their treatment systems and reduce incidents of untreated sewage being discharged to rivers and coastal waters. Of particular concern are storm overflows from combined sewerage systems that damage wildlife and the recreation value of the water environment.

For further information on this challenge, see the following documents:

7. Invasive non-native species

An invasive non-native species is an animal or plant introduced, either deliberately or accidentally, into a place where it does not belong. They can hitch-hike a ride on goods or other animals or even travel in the ballast of ships. The damage that invasive non-native species cause can have major and permanent results. Not all non-native species are damaging; for instance non-native food crops can have huge benefits. A species only becomes ‘invasive’ if it has negative effects on the environment. Global trade, tourism and transport increase the problem world-wide, and the problem is increasing every year.

It is estimated that the United Kingdom has over 2000 established non-native species and the cost to society that they pose can be enormous. For example, Japanese knotweed grows in thick dense clusters that increase riverbank erosion and may reduce the capacity of river channels, possibly leading to increased flooding. But the effects are not just economic. Invasive non-native species can also damage animal and human health and the way people live. They can erode and undermine riverbanks, introduce new diseases, and can make native wildlife extinct.

For further information on this challenge, see the following documents:

8. Pollution from towns, cities and transport

More than half the people in the world now live in cities. In England that number is far greater, with 83% of people now living in urban areas. The environment faces some of its greatest challenges from urbanisation and transport. Pollution from towns and cities is damaging most of the waters in England’s urban areas.

Pollution comes from waste, drainage, roads, transport, industries and housing. Historic pollution from factories and heavy industry has also left a legacy contaminating land, soils and water.

For further information on this challenge, see the following documents:

9. Changes to water levels and flows

Without water none of us can survive. But how water gets to people’s taps and the effect that has on the environment is something most of us do not think about. Water taken from rivers and aquifers benefits all parts of the economy, from farmers to energy producers.

There are areas where too much water is taken from rivers and aquifers and as the climate changes and the population grows, demand for water will also grow. In some places more water is taken from rivers and groundwater than is put back or replenished when it rains. This damages rivers, springs, aquifers, lakes and wetlands, because it reduces where wildlife can live. It becomes more difficult for fish to reach the places they lay their eggs (their spawning grounds) and to where they travel to feed and mate.

If action is not taken, the problem will increase and many areas of England will face water shortages by 2050.

For further information on this challenge see the Water levels and flows: challenges for the water environment document and the European site protected areas: challenges for the water environment document.

10. Chemicals in the water environment

Manufactured chemicals that find their way into water, air and soil can be harmful to people and the environment. Some build up in animals and may represent risks to top predators and people, if not properly controlled.

Chemicals, including those that are ubiquitous, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (uPBTs), can impact on the aquatic ecosystem in the following ways:

  • aquatic life (fish, plants and invertebrates) from direct exposure to chemicals in England’s waters
  • human health and higher wildlife predators from chemicals that may accumulate through the aquatic food chain
  • surface and groundwater sources where chemical contamination may compromise their on-going use to supply water for domestic or food production purposes

Chemicals in the environment are derived from a variety of sources. Some chemicals are ubiquitous and are best managed at a national scale whereas others are particular to an activity and their management should be focused at a local scale. Many chemicals are banned from production or use (or both) but are persistent in the environment for long periods and continue to be monitored to demonstrate that existing controls are adequate, and concentrations are decreasing. Managing chemicals will ensure that the impact on aquatic life and human uses of water and the flora and fauna that live in it are minimised.

As new chemicals are manufactured and used, and the assessment of chemicals improves to better manage any risks, the range of chemicals and the way they are assessed has evolved since the first river basin management plan was published in 2009. See the River basin planning process overview document on the approach to chemicals classification.

The Environment Agency has updated the Emissions Inventory that provides an understanding of the sources of priority substances at river basin district scale. The inventory will be periodically updated.

Better understanding of the sources of priority substances and the ways in which pollution occurs will help to target measures to phase-out emissions or reduce pollution of the most relevant chemicals and avoids wasted effort on chemicals of little or no relevance.

For further information on the pressures associated with chemicals see the following documents:

11. Pollution from abandoned mines

People have been mining for coal, metal, and other minerals in England since the Bronze Age. Mining also helped start Britain’s industrial revolution, reaching its peak in the 19th and early 20th centuries. There are thousands of former mines across the landscape today. Almost all the metal mines closed over 100 years ago but they still pollute rivers and harm fish, river insects and habitats. Today, abandoned mines pollute more than 3% of rivers, harming wildlife, threatening drinking water supplies from groundwater, and impacting the economy.

Pollution from coal mines smothers river beds and harms the local habitat. In some areas, groundwater used for drinking water supply is threatened due to the pollution from coalfields.

Legally, nobody can be held responsible for permitting ongoing pollution from mines abandoned before 2000, therefore government has to intervene. Programmes of measures for abandoned coal and metal mines are trying to deal with this legacy of water pollution.

For further information on this challenge, see the Mine waters: challenges for the water environment document.

12. Plastics pollution

Many people are more aware than ever that plastic has an impact on the seas and wildlife but it is not just the plastic pollution we all can see on beaches. Because of the way plastics are produced, used and disposed of, these plastics can also pollute lakes, rivers and streams, soil and the air.

Micro-plastics are a growing concern but one which needs more research. Micro-plastics come from tyres and synthetic textiles. Each time you use a washing machine thousands of particles of micro-plastics are released. These tiny particles are entering the environment in large quantities. It is not yet understood what the potential consequences will be of this on people’s health, the food chain and wildlife could be.

For further information on this challenge of see the Plastics: challenges for the water environment document.

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