Defra shares high-level response to river basin consultation

Defra has published a short summary of the 606 responses it received to its water Challenges and choices consultation, which it will use to update existing River Basin Management Plans.

Among the topics raised were:

• nature-based solutions that can deliver multiple benefits, including reducing flood risk through natural flood management and improving habitats and biodiversity through actions such as re-wilding;

• addressing storm water overflows – respondents called on the Environment Agency (EA) to reduce the frequency of use and penalise water companies when they use them too frequently;

• tackling over abstraction – respondents commented on the importance of sustainable abstraction on chalk; the need to maintain a minimum flow target; and the need to value water appropriately and encourage using water meters;

• catchment planning and partnerships, including delivering education and citizen campaigns;

• enforcing existing regulations – respondents said the EA should do more;

• The importance of Environmental Land Management schemes and the need for these to be supported by greater enforcement of existing regulations;

• chemicals and plastics in the environment – there were calls for campaigns to educate people about sustainable use and for government bans and restrictions; and

• future funding for the environment – the main suggestion was for the government to use additional taxes to support environmental improvements.

The consultation ran from October 2019 to September 2020.