Introduction

The purpose of this report is to understand the role local and regional governments play in managing water quality. It will examine examples from around the UK of how local and regional governments impact the quality of our nation’s water while also delving into the legislation that everyone is meant to abide by. Furthermore, it will examine how interventions in water quality impact the people and ecosystems that rely on this resource.

Clean water is, without a doubt, the most critical resource for all living species on the planet, as it is widely acknowledged that the average human can survive for only around three days without access to water. Therefore, ensuring people have reliable access to clean drinking water is of the utmost importance in sustaining society. From industries to sewage systems, water is used everywhere. However, creating a framework for industries and organisations to follow is challenging, as numerous factors must be accounted for, including diverse industrial needs, the geographical landscape, proximity to local parks, water availability, and, of course, the need for employment. This can often lead to lengthy pieces of legislation that cover all these matters, and the United Kingdom is no stranger to this.

What legislation is in place to protect water quality in the UK?

The Water Environment (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 or the Water Framework Directive, were introduced to protect surface waters, including rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and groundwater. Its aims were to prevent further decline of the waters in England and Wales, particularly England, and to help restore some of the nation’s wetland ecosystems. Unless action is taken by 2027, we could see a 6% decrease in the percentage of rivers classified as having a “Good Ecological” status Gov.uk (2024).

One of the most significant introductions in the WFD was the requirement for River Basin Management Plans to be developed for every River Basin District in England and Wales. These River Basin Management Plans aim to understand the current state of the water environment within the basin while also highlighting the pressures facing the region and suggesting ways to improve water quality and the overall environment.

River Basin Management Plans implement multiple measures to control and improve water quality in these basins. Some of the measures include financial incentives, controls on certain products, and bylaws, among others Gov.uk (2024).

These plans were put up for review in 2022, following the Environmental Act 2021, which aimed to fill the gaps in the protection of nature, water quality, clean air, and other aspects of the natural environment resulting from the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. Reports from the Royal College of Physicians suggest that the impact of air pollution on business and the nation’s health service exceeds £20 billion Royal College of Physicians (2020). One major item in the Environmental Act of 2021 was the requirement for continuous monitoring of water quality upstream and downstream of an asset that may discharge raw sewage into a watercourse legislation.gov.uk (2021).

Furthermore, the Water Framework Directive outlines control standards for certain pesticides, and Article 7 of the WFD provides additional protection for water bodies that serve as sources of drinking water Dolan, T. (2012).

Discussion

Several successful mitigation strategies have been implemented to improve water quality in case studies around the UK; however, there are also unsuccessful examples, some of which remain ongoing. Learning from the outcomes of certain case studies and the ways organisations addressed the issue of poor water quality is of great importance in helping others in the UK and around the world.

Success stories

Loch Leven is an example of a successful case study. Loch Leven is a key water source for regions downstream, including Glenrothes, Leven, and Methil, which serve an area of approximately 100,000 people. This water experienced a similar situation to the River Wye, where fertiliser has leached into the water system and into the Loch, posing a “serious problem to the high conservation, recreational, and economic value of the loch” in the 1980s.

Figure 1 – Loch Leven’s catchment basin. (L May, 2018)

Around 80% of Loch Leven’s catchment is in intensive agricultural use, with most erosion occurring during heavy rain and surface water runoff crossing this heavily farmed land. Plans were put in place to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the water course. For example, sewage treatment facilities were upgraded, resulting in a nearly 60% reduction in Total Phosphorus Scottish Natural Heritage (2015). Since 1985, approximately 57% of TP input into the Lochs watercourse has been attributed to sewage discharges from local wastewater works Scottish Natural Heritage (2015). Therefore, the upgraded sewage works made a big difference to the aquatic ecosystem of Loch Leven.

Scottish Natural Heritage worked on raising awareness of agricultural diffuse pollution by creating a series of workshops that showcased land management strategies, as well as conducting one-to-one farm visits.

Another example of a success story is the restoration of the Aire and Wharfe rivers, which have seen significant improvements in water quality, two major rivers in Yorkshire. Yorkshire Water is installing 21 water quality meters along the River Wharfe’s course to help identify sections of the river that may be contributing to poor water quality. A consulting report from JBA Consulting reported that the management of the River Wharfe prevented the river from acting naturally. Some examples of this are

• Channel deepening
• Channel realignment
• Construction of flood banks and walls to reduce flood risk and erosion

They have highlighted multiple ways in which the river can become more natural and how the water quality can be improved JBA Consulting (2013). Reducing livestock access to riverbanks and increasing vegetation along the riverbanks will stabilise the river and decrease bank erosion. Furthermore, if Riparian vegetation is added along the banks, it will act as a filtration system for any possible surface runoff while also promoting the ecosystem’s biodiversity JBA Consulting (2013).

Failures stories

The River Wye, which flows through the English and Welsh countryside, has encountered a significant issue: high levels of phosphorus are being washed into the watercourse, resulting in excessive algal blooms that harm the ecosystem. It is estimated that 23 million birds are being raised in the River Wye catchment, with 72 to 74% of the phosphate in the watercourse being attributed to this farming Gov.uk (2024). Paul Withers, a Professor of Catchment Biogeochemistry at Lancaster University, states that phosphorus levels in the Wye catchment are nearly 60% higher than the national average Herefordshire Wildlife Trust (2022). According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the United States of America algal blooms “can damage the environment by depleting oxygen in the water, which can kill fish and other living creatures” while also block sunlight from reaching the deeper areas of the water body posing a risk to the aquatic plants in the ecosystem JBA Consulting (2013).

Therefore, using Loch Leven as an example, reducing runoff from the surrounding basin and heavily minimising sewage discharge into the rivers will be able to cause a significant reduction in phosphate levels along the course of the Wye. Examples like planting Riparian vegetation along the banks of the river, where some of the largest chicken farms are located, would help filter out some of the phosphates, just as along the River Wharfe.

Evaluation

Government regulations and legislation regarding water quality are of paramount importance to all nations worldwide. However, water quality regulation does create problems. For example, there is always a possibility of overregulation, which may harm businesses and the broader economy, as companies are unable to compete with international enterprises that may not face the same considerations regarding water quality. These added complications can lead to significant delays for nationally important projects, but they also prompt companies and groups to seek possible loopholes, with sewage entering the country’s waterways being a prime example. In 2024, 3.614 million hours of sewage were released into lakes, rivers, and seas in England by the nation’s water companies (Source).  

Nevertheless, there are still multiple advantages to government legislation regarding water quality. Some of the advantages associated with this approach are that it can lead to accountability, and agencies such as the Environmental Agency can issue fines and prosecute companies that break the rules. Since 2015, the agency has dished out 63 fines to water and sewage companies, totalling £150 million House of Lords Libary (2025). Additionally, legislation helps promote healthier and more diverse water ecosystems, which can help mitigate the effects of climate change by acting as a carbon sink House of Lords Libary (2025). Ultimately, access to clean water yields substantial economic benefits, including opportunities in fishing, tourism, and agriculture.

However, as with many projects in the United Kingdom, cost is often the major thorn in achieving successful results with river restoration, requiring appropriate funding to incentivize the restoration JBA Consulting (2013). Considering that both local and national governments are strapped for cash, the availability of these funds does not look likely.

Political pressure

Although the protection of nature is a major concern for many people in the United Kingdom, a growing number of individuals, particularly those affiliated with newer parties, such as Reform UK, share this concern. Reform UK has stated that it wants to abolish numerous environmental protection initiatives but has called for water companies to stop discharging sewage into the nation’s waterways BBC News (2023). This lack of understanding regarding the importance of protecting nature means that the concept of concrete environmental targets may be less likely to be pursued by one of the United Kingdom’s fastest-rising political parties.

One of the reasons groups like Reform want to revise areas of the government’s environmental targets is the belief that these targets are hindering the country’s economic growth and that abolishing them will supercharge the economy.

Nevertheless, there is mounting pressure from locals and environmental campaigners for the cleanup of water bodies like Loch Leven, with the idea that it could become Scotland’s first wild swimming centre The Times (2022). It is this public backing and campaigning that will make members of parliament take note of the issue and its importance to the voting population, as without it, the chances of successful assistance by local and national governments seem unlikely.

Conclusion

The local and national governments of the United Kingdom recognise the importance of managing water quality by introducing a legal framework that forces local bodies to create plans to mitigate the level of pollution in the country’s waterways. These frameworks include the Water Environment (England and Wales) Regulations 2017, which were introduced to protect bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers, in England and Wales under the supervision of the local government. For effective water quality control, communication between local and national governments is critical in ensuring the nation’s water quality. National governance provides the legal and regulatory framework while also enforcing it, as well as, in some cases, providing funding for larger projects. As it stands, England and Wales are well-positioned to improve their water quality following the implementation of legislation in both countries.

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