Perspectives actuelles et futures de l'organisation et de la gestion de l'eau au Royaume Uni

Present and future perspectives for the organisation and management of water resources in the United Kingdom

The Environment Agency, UK

Abstract

This paper briefly highlights some of the principal issues related to the organisation and management of water in the UK following the privatisation of the water services industry and the establishment of a new regulatory regime. Many lessons have heen learnt since the re-organisation and the system is now becoming increasingly more efficient as experience is gained. The need to respond to new and predicted future pressures is stimulating new thinking on how the water environment can he managed in a more sustainable manner and what additional measures are needed. The paper describes the basic organisation of the water industry and how it is regulated; the investment planning process and the results have been achieved; the arrangements for river basin management; the state of the water environment and the principal issues to be tackled; and some of the challenges in managing the water enviroment in the context of sustainable development.