HomeWater EducationDevelopmentRivers & RegionsWater IssuesDisastersNewsDocumentsEditorialContentsOfwat – Office of Water ServicesEnvironment AgencyDrinking Water InspectorateDepartment of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)Environment Agency WalesWater Industry Commissioner for ScotlandScottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)Northern Ireland executive – Department of the EnvironmentWater Quality in the European UnionEuropean Environment Agency – waterWater UKWaterWatch UKWaterWatch in the Anglian Water RegionWhat’s in Your BackyardNational Pure Water AssociationEnvironmental Data Services Ltd (ENDS)UK Water Industry Marketing and IntelligenceInstitute of Freshwater EcologySurfers Against SewerageSludgeWatch – The Sewage Sludge Action Group in the UKMarine Conservation SocietyFoundation for Water ResearchWho are we?Ofwat (the Office of Water Services) is responsible for making sure that the water and sewerage companies in England and Wales give you a good quality, efficient service at a fair price. We are a government department led by The Director General of Water Services.What is Ofwat’s role?Ofwat is the economic regulator of the water industry. It set limits on what the water and sewerage companies can charge. He also makes sure that the water and sewerage companies carry out their responsibilities under the Water Industry Act 1991. Ofwat protects the standards of service you receive, and encourges the companies to become efficient. Ofwat undertakes activities to allow more effective competition to develop. The performance of the companies is compared which helps the poor performers to rise to the standards of the best.”A better environment in England and Wales for present and future generations.Aims:To achieve major and continuous improvements in the quality of air, land and water. To achieve major and continuous improvements in the quality of air, land and water. To encourage the conservation of natural resources, animals and plants. To encourage the conservation of natural resources, animals and plants. To make the most of pollution control and river-basin management. To make the most of pollution control and river-basin management. To provide effective defence and warning systems to protect people and property against flooding from rivers and the sea. To provide effective defence and warning systems to protect people and property against flooding from rivers and the sea. To reduce the amount of waste by encouraging people to re-use and recycle their waste. To reduce the amount of waste by encouraging people to re-use and recycle their waste. To improve standards of waste disposal. To improve standards of waste disposal. To manage water resources to achieve the proper balance between the country’s needs and the environment. To manage water resources to achieve the proper balance between the country’s needs and the environment. To work with other organisations to reclaim contaminated land. To work with other organisations to reclaim contaminated land. To improve and develop salmon and freshwater fisheries. To improve and develop salmon and freshwater fisheries. To conserve and improve river navigation. To conserve and improve river navigation. To tell people about environmental issues by educating and informing. To tell people about environmental issues by educating and informing. To set priorities and work out solutions that society can afford.To set priorities and work out solutions that society can afford.We will do this by:being open and consulting others about our work; being open and consulting others about our work; basing our decisions around sound science and research; basing our decisions around sound science and research; valuing and developing our employees; and valuing and developing our employees; and being efficient and businesslike in all we do.being efficient and businesslike in all we do.Drinking Water InspectorateOur main job is to check that the water companies in England and Wales supply water that is safe to drink and meets the standards set in the Water Quality Regulations. We also investigate complaints from consumers and incidents which affect or could affect drinking water quality. Our investigations of incidents can lead to water companies being prosecuted.Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)responsible for the legal structure of the water industry and how it is regulated. Also responsible for developing and putting into practice EC Directives affecting the water industry and the water environment generallyThe DETR aims to improve everyone’s quality of life, now and for the future, through:thriving, prosperous regions and communities; better transport; better housing; a better environment; safer, healthier surroundings; and prudent use of natural resources.Our ten objectives are listed below:To protect and improve the environment and to integrate the environment with other policies across Government and internationally. To offer everyone the opportunity of a decent home and so promote social cohesion, well-being and self-dependence. To promote modern and integrated transport for everyone and to reduce the impact of transport on the environment. To provide customer-focused regulatory and other transport services and to collect taxes fairly and efficiently. To enhance opportunity in rural areas, improve enjoyment of the countryside and conserve and manage wildlife resources. To promote a sustainable pattern of physical development and land and property use in cities, towns and the countryside. To promote a system of elected government in England which responds to the needs of local communities. To enhance sustainable economic development and social cohesion throughout England through effective regional action and integrated local regeneration programmes. To secure an efficient market in the construction industry, with innovative and successful UK firms that meet the needs of clients and society and are competitive at home and abroad. To improve health and safety by reducing risks from work activity, travel and the environment.In delivering these objectives DETR will:work in partnership with others in the public and private sectors; be open and accountable; be a strong voice in pursuing UK interests in Europe and elsewhere; deliver high quality services to the public; use available resources in the manner which is most efficient and secures best value for money, taking account of the costs and benefits; de-centralise decision-making wherever possible; and create opportunities for all our staff and ensure they are equipped with the skills they need. Environment Agency WalesOur VisionOur VisionA better environment in Wales for present and future generations.Our aimsTo achieve major and continuous improvements in the quality of air, land and water. To encourage the conservation of natural resources, animals and plants. To make the most of pollution control and river-basin management. To provide effective defence and warning systems to protect people and property against flooding from rivers and the sea. To reduce the amount of waste by encouraging people to re-use and recycle their waste. To improve standards of waste disposal. To manage water resources to achieve the proper balance between the country’s needs and the environment. To work with other organisations to reclaim contaminated land. To improve and develop salmon and freshwater fisheries. To conserve and improve river navigation. To tell people about environmental issues by educating and informing. To set priorities and work out solutions that society can afford.We will do this by:being open and consulting others about our work; basing our decisions around sound science and research; valuing and developing our employees; and Water Industry Commissioner for ScotlandAlan D A Sutherland took up his new post as Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland on November 1 1999. The primary role of the Commissioner is to promote the interests of customers of the three Scottish water authorities and to advise the Scottish Executive about the level of water authority charges. More specific, the Commissioners’ duties include:providing advice on the charges cap necessary to provide the water authorities with enough resources to fund investment; consideration and approval of the water authorities’ annual charges scheme; investigation of complaints not resolved between customers and their water authority; advising Scottish Ministers on the water authorities’ standards of service and customer relations; approval of the water authorities’ codes of customer practice ; chairing of the three Consultative Committees and appointing members to the committees; provision of advice, when requested by Scottish Ministers, on a range of matters relating to the impact of the water authorities on their customers.Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is the public body responsible for environmental protection in Scotland. It was established under the Environment Act 1995 and became fully operational from 1 April 1996. SEPA’s main aim is: ” to provide an efficient and integrated environmental protection system for Scotland which will both improve the environment and contribute to the Government’s goal of sustainable development.”SEPA regulates potential pollution of natural waters and the air and the storage, transportation and disposal of controlled waste and the keeping of radioactive materials. In fulfilment of it’s broader duty to bring about environmental improvement in Scotland, SEPA provides extensive guidance and advice to regulated organisations and works in partnership with others to deliver environmental goals through non-statutory means.Northern Ireland executive – Department of the EnvironmentVisionThe Department exists to improve the quality of life of everyone in Northern Ireland through the economic, effective, efficient and equitable exercise of its responsibilities. The Department aims to be an organisation which is continuously improving how it serves its customers and the taxpayer. Guide the development of land through an effective planning process.Conserve, protect and improve the natural and built environment.Place the concept of sustainable development at the head of DOE policies and promote it across the NI Executive.Improve road safety.Promote a system of local government which meets the needs of citizens and ratepayers.Promote equality of opportunity and fair treatment for all in the implementation of the Department’s responsibilitiesProvide and continuously improve the effective delivery of DOE’s service to ensure value for money and improved service to customersContribute to the realisation of the overall aims and objectives and policy priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive, including the Programme for GovernmentWater Quality in the European UnionAs early as the 1970’s the European Union began to develop some common rules to protect the aquatic environment and prevent pollution.  This site attempts to clarify the objectives of these different water directives, their achievements, the difficulties one may encounter when implementing them and the most recent developments. water@dg11.cec.be European Environment Agency – waterHuman health and development are threatened in many places because of insufficient or poor quality water. Within this section you will find information on the state of groundwater, rivers and lakes, water quantity and quality trends.Water UK is a membership organisation to which all the regulated water operators in the UK belong. Its focus is to enable the water industry to address issues of common interest and communicate its views to those outside. It works for positive conditions in which the industry can best make its essential contribution to the national economy and quality of life. Working in partnership, Water UK helps the industry to develop by: looking ahead to define and communicate its policies at national levelcaring for its reputationproviding forums for debate about water and waste water and the future of utilitiesbeing a focus for accessible and reliable information.WaterWatch is a voluntary network of campaigners, groups and individuals, concerned with all water issues (consumer, environmental, regulatory and health) in England and Wales. Set up in February 1994, it has played an important role in promoting debate about the water industry and exposed a number of problems and shortcomings. WaterWatch welcomes contact with organisations and individuals who are concerned with water issues. WaterWatch in the Anglian Water RegionAnglian Water are the main provider of water and sewage services for the Eastern England lying between the estuaries of the Humber and the Thames. The Region covers the Counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Leicestershire, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, and Suffolk. Water is essential to life. We all have to drink it. It is the business of the water companies to supply a clean, safe potable source of water. It is the business of government to enact legislation to control the water companies. It is not the business of government to use the water supply to medicate the population without their consent. Reporting breaking European environmental news to a worldwide audience. Published by e-mail and on the internet each business day. Web based archive with powerful search facilities. Available on annual subscription.UK Water Industry Marketing and IntelligenceThe UK Water Industry WebsiteInstitute of Freshwater EcologyIn addition to a programme of basic research, funded by the science budget of NERC, the CEH undertakes commissioned research for a wide range of customers including:Department of the Environment Department of Energy English Nature Scottish Natural Heritage Countryside Council for Wales Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food National Rivers Authority Water CompaniesOverseas Development AdministrationNatural Resources Institute The British Council Commission of the European Communities National Power Scottish Office Departments Regional Councils Private IndustrySurfers Against SewerageSludgeWatch – The Sewage Sludge Action Group in the UKOur AIMS & Objectives may be summarised by the following:To work at all times in the best interests of the majority of local people and the population as a whole To ascertain the true facts about the N-Viro process and the product and the likely long-term proximity effect. To continue to oppose development at Stambridge Treatment Works, Essex, England and all other UK plants (whether already operational or proposed) whilst the long term effects of the N-Viro product on both the environment and health is either: 1. unknown or, 2. known to be hazardous. To help, assist and pass on any relevant information to other like-minded action groups, whether U.K. based or otherwise.We will endeavour to achieve these aims by a number of methods including:Persuading the Secretary of State to “call-in” the application for investigation. Raising Public concern as regards public safety. Bringing about a Public Enquiry into the matter Marine Conservation SocietyThe Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK’s national charity for the marine environment and its wildlife. An independent, non-profit making organisation that promotes and disseminates research on all aspects of water, wastewater and related environmental issues.  Water Resource ResourcesFaith Development & PovertyNew photo galleriesOPINION: Confusing Cause and EffectHomeFeaturesWater EducationDevelopmentNewsDocumentRivers & RegionsWater IssuesDisastersWater PolicyEditorialLinks
