Page last updated at 11:53 GMT, Thursday, November 26 2009

Rivers and Streams  

Rivers and the surrounding land drained by them are very important wildlife habitats.  The water itself provides the environment for fish, plants and animals, while the banks and nearby land support creatures such as otters, kingfishers and dragonflies.

There are several sources of water pollution which reduce the overall river water quality.  Industry and agriculture discharge liquid waste products.  Rain, as it falls through the air, or drains from urban areas, absorbs contaminants.

Both the European Union and the British Goverenment legislate for wate quality.  The most important legislation is the Water Resources Act 1991.  It instructs the Environment Agency to police the use of water in England and Wales.  The Environment Agency manages fisheries, flood defence, navigation, recreation and nature conservation.  It also protects water resources by issuing licences for draining off large volumes of water (abstraction) from water courses and for discharge of pollutants. www.environment-agency.gov.uk/

The National Rivers authority requests that incidents such as pollution, poaching and flooding should be reported through the National Emergency freephone number - 0800 807 060.