RECLAIMING THE RAIN

Harnessing water for local good

Who is Responsible for
Managing Our Water?

central government

Responsible for setting relevant, and effective legislation that ensures all other authorities can manage water in a sustainable way.

environment agency

Issue licenses allowing individuals or organisations to access water from rivers and underground. Monitors water levels to ensure we know when supplies are low.

everyone else

We should all have a responsibility to know how our water use affects the people and environment around us. Nobody wants to do the wrong thing, but it can sometimes be difficult to know what you should do. Reclaim the Rain wants to help.

ofwat

A financial regulator which tries to ensure that water companies provide customers with a service which represents good value for money.

private water users

Farmers and other landowners, or organisations who need to remove water from rivers and underground. This is known as abstraction. Most abstraction requires a special license from the Environment Agency.

water companies

Most water companies are responsible for ensuring their customers have access to fresh water in adequate quantities and quality. They must often work closely with OFWAT and the Environment Agency to do this.

what is drought?

These plans are designed to protect the environment, the public water supply and industry from the effects of water shortages as much as possible. The exact measures will vary depending on the circumstances, but can include things like hosepipe bans for water customers.

In the UK, a drought is declared following a long period of dry weather when the Environment Agency speaks to water companies, government officials and groups including famers' representatives, and decides that pre-arranged drought plans should be activated.