Research and analysis

Water levels and flows: challenges for the water environment

The pressures on water flows, a review of actions to address the challenges, plus future challenges and actions.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 22 October 2021
• Last updated: 20 November 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 20 November 2025

     Updated report to reflect the latest challenges for the water environment.

  2. 30 November 2022

     Multiple minor changes to bring the document up to date with the latest developments. In particular, in the sections What needs to be achieved, Environment Act 2021, Action on chalk rivers, and Future challenges and actions.

  3. 22 October 2021

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Water levels and flows: challenges for the water environment

ODT, 1.69 MB

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Details

This report describes:

• the pressures on abstraction on water levels and flows
• the impacts of these pressure on the quality of the water ecology and habitats
• future challenges
• current and future solutions

It includes 2 case studies illustrating how actions improve outcomes.