Surface Water - clean water for all

What laws protect the UK’s rivers?In the UK, rivers and their ecosystems are primarily protected by environmental laws and regulations aimed at preserving water quality, biodiversity, and ecological integrity. To identify and act on legal violations, campaigners should focus on understanding these regulatory frameworks governing water quality. These include:

• The Environment Act 2021
• The Water Resources Act 1991
• The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
• The Water Framework Directive
• Farming Rules for Water 2018
• The Habitats Regulations 2017
• The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981