Wide, shallow and crystal clear, chalk streams are rivers almost unique to England. They rise from springs, flow through chalk and their mineral-rich water is a haven for aquatic plants, insects and species including otters, kingfishers and water voles.
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Information, guidance & standards
Ecological status
For much of the past 100 years our rivers have been in a state of crisis. Until the 1990s sewage and other pollutants caused the numbers of invertebrates, fish and mammals to plummet. In recent decades water quality has greatly improved but the water industry and other sectors still face considerable challenges to ensure the health of our rivers meets the expectations of 21st century users.
Publications
Net Zero 2030 Routemap
In November 2020, water companies unveiled a ground-breaking plan to deliver a net zero water supply for customers by 2030 in the world’s first sector-wide commitment of its kind.
Publications
Briefing Paper on managing water supplies during summer 2018 and preparing for 2019
A record of the water industry’s actions successfully managing water resources in the long, hot summer of 2018 has been published.