Written question asked by Martyn Jones (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 4 March 1997. It was answered by James Clappison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 4 March 1997 on behalf of the Department of the Environment.

Dept of the Environment

Question: How many rivers in England and Wales have been identified as suffering from low flow due to over-abstraction; what percentage of those identified have had (a) short term and (b) long term solutions implemented to restore their natural flow.

Answer: Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many rivers in England and Wales have been identified as suffering from low flow due to over-abstraction; what percentage of those identified have had (a) short-term and (b) long-term solutions implemented to restore their natural flow; and if he will make a statement. [18015] Mr. Clappison: In 1990-91 the National Rivers Authority identified in England and Wales a total of 335 km of reaches in 40 rivers as having low flows and affected by water abstraction. Of those 40, nine have fully implemented solutions, nine have solutions in progress, eight have solutions identified, six continue to be investigated and eight have been found not to have problems due to abstraction. By March 1996, the total length of the affected reaches had been reduced by 207 km. The Environment Agency has targets to reduce this by a further 106 km by March 1999.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 18015; 291 c598W
Session: 1996-97
Subjects: Conservation Natural resources Water Rivers Water abstraction Ground water