Staff from the Environment Agency are urging people to have their say on a consultation which looks at how we can better manage the rivers, groundwater and coastal waters from North Northumberland to the south of the Tees.
The area, called the Northumbria River Basin, includes all the rivers, ground water and coastal waters within 9,000 square kilometres which stretches across the country from the Pennines to the North Sea.
It is home to more than 2.5 million people and includes industrial areas, Northumberland National Park and the North Pennines.
England and Wales have been divided into 11 river basins for the purpose of the Water Framework Directive.
The regulations require better protection and improvements to rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters, wiser use of water as a natural resource and the creation of healthy ecosystems for wildlife.
The consultation closes on 24 January, 2008, and the actions that people and organisations will have to take will be outlined in a draft management plan to be published in December 2008.
Water Framework Directive programme manager Ellie Simpson said “Water is essential for our life and livelihoods and we want to protect and improve our water environment by working in partnership with people and organisations.
“River Basin Planning is a new approach and we will all need to work together to create a comprehensive range of successful measures to tackle some difficult issues. We want to find cost effective and innovative solutions, dealing with pollution at source where possible and making sure that everyone plays their part.
“I hope that people will take this opportunity to get involved, and have a say in this consultation.”
The consultation, called Significant Water Management Issues, identifies the key pressures facing the Northumbria river basin. These include pollution from urban and rural areas, water abstraction, loss of habitat and non-native invasive species such as signal crayfish.
People can complete the consultation online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd. By using the online consultation people will also be able to see responses from other people and allow people to see their response if they wish.
Alternatively, write to Ellie Simpson, Tyneside House, Skinnerburn Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 7AR. The consultation closes on 24 January 2008.
