Water resources
Information on water resources, including policy on abstraction licensing (the taking of water supplies from watercourses), water resources management plans and drought , is published here.
Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government have policy responsibility for water resources in England and Wales. There is the need to effectively manage water resources, as there is increasing pressure on water supply brought about by changes in societal demand, population increase, changing household patterns and by climate change.
We work closely with the Environment Agency, who manage water resources and enforce water quality standards.
- Drought
- Water resources and abstraction
- Water resources planning
- Water resources: reports of research sponsored by the Defra
See also
Information on reservoir safety is now published on the Flood Management pages at Dam and reservoir safetyPage last modified: 4 November 2008