Britain: An official handbook > 1993

BRITAIN 1993: AN OFFICIAL HANDBOOK
major 25-year programme of investment to
clean up the polluted rivers of the Mersey
Basin.
Water is an increasingly scarce resource.
The industry, through contingency planning
and publicity campaigns, aims to encourage
the wise use of water, especially when
supplies run low because of prolonged warm,
dry weather. A national review of water
consumption and conservation, prompted by
the drought in south-east England which
began in 1988, has been put in hand by the
Government. The NRA has published a
survey of the prospects for public water
supplies to the year 2011 in England and
Wales. It is investigating the strategic
development of water resources, including
major new transfer schemes, and is
reviewing the possibilities of a national grid
and desalination. The Government has
issued a consultation paper about possible
ways of augmenting water resources in
England and Wales; measures that might be
taken to cut waste and reduce usage; and
ways of controlling demand.
Scotland
In Scotland responsibility for public water
supply, sewerage and sewage disposal rests
with the nine regional and three islands
councils (‘the water authorities’). In addition,
the Central Scotland Water Development
Board is responsible for developing new
sources of supply to provide water in bulk to
the regional councils in an area of
25,900 sq km (10,000 sq miles) in central
Scotland. The Secretary of State for
Scotland is responsible for promoting
conservation of water resources and
provision by water authorities and water
development boards of adequate water
supplies. He has a duty to promote the
cleanliness of rivers and other inland waters,
and the tidal waters of Scotland. River
purification authorities have a statutory
responsibility for water pollution control.
Water is charged for according to type of
consumer: domestic consumers pay
community water charges (from April 1993,
council water charges); non-domestic
consumers pay by means of non-domestic
water rates, or through metered charges.
Charges and rates are decided by each
authority.
Scotland has a relative abundance of
unpolluted water from upland sources. An
average of 2,301 Ml a day was supplied in
Scotland in 1990-91.
Northern Ireland
The Department of the Environment for
Northern Ireland is responsible for public
water supply and sewerage throughout
Northern Ireland. It is also responsible for
the conservation and cleanliness of water
resources and, with the Department of
Agriculture for Northern Ireland, may
prepare a water management programme with
respect to water resources in any area. There
is a domestic water charge which is contained
in the regional rate, while agriculture,
commerce and industry pay metered charges.
There are abundant potential supplies of
water for both domestic and industrial use.
An average of 681 Ml of water a day was
supplied in 1990-91.
Research
Several organisations and centres of expertise
provide water research services to
government, the NRA, water companies and
the Scottish river purification boards. The
Water Research Centre, a private company,
has a large programme of research into, for
example, environmental issues and drinking
water safety. Research carried out by
institutes of the Natural Environment
Research Council embraces river modelling,
water quality, climate change effects on
resources and the impact of pollution on
freshwater. Among its various roles the
Institute of Hydrology studies the statistics of
floods and droughts.
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