UK: Rivers on the Edge
Water is our most precious resource. WWF’s Rivers on the Edge project is about saving UK rivers on the edge of ruin.
As well as providing some beautiful scenery, the rivers that run through – and on the edge of – Britain’s towns and cities supply us with most of our freshwater, for drinking and washing, and take away our waste.
It can sometimes be hard to see the connection between the water that comes out of our taps and the water we see flowing along in streams and rivers.
But the fact is, the water you rely on at home will originally have been pumped from rivers (or underground aquifers that supply rivers), before being stored in reservoirs and processed at treatment plants.
Even in traditionally rainy Britain, the consequences of our wasteful overuse of water, particularly in heavily-populated areas, are now becoming clear to see.
Our rivers at risk
“Over-abstraction” is the big problem – taking more water from rivers and aquifers than is naturally replaced, and not leaving enough to maintain a healthy ecosystem – and it exacerbates all other pressures like sewage and chemical pollution.
Some rivers are drying up completely at certain times of year, which can be fatal for the wildlife that relies on them.
But any water level drop means contaminants become more concentrated, rivers slow down, fill up with sediment and may get warmer, all of which severely affects habitats for fish, insects, animals and plants, sometimes irreversibly.
Rivers on the Edge will focus first on three of the UK’s iconic ‘chalk streams’ – unique river systems found only in England and pockets of northern France. The Kennet, the Itchen and the Upper Lee also happen to be among the most heavily abstracted rivers in the UK.
Saving water saves rivers
The good news is that we can all make a big difference to the health and survival of our rivers, just by saving water.
One third of the water we take from our natural environment is wasted.
By taking only what we need, and by using water more efficiently, we can meet the demands of our modern lifestyles and still ensure there’s enough water for wildlife.
Water efficiency has no downside – it’s good for our rivers, the wider environment, consumers (through lower bills) and the water industry.
Our Rivers on the Edge project aims to help thousands of UK homes, schools and businesses cut water use, saving millions of litres of water for our rivers.
Our proposals include:
- a water meter in every home by 2020 – with a pricing structure that doesn’t penalise vulnerable households
- every new home must be water-neutral – and every existing home, school, office and hospital water-efficient by 2050
- strong incentives to promote water efficiency – government can lead the way by ensuring all public buildings are water-efficient
- end damaging abstraction – by significantly increasing abstraction prices for water companies and other industries
You can...
You can...
- Find out how you can save water at home
- Read more about our Rivers on the Edge project
- Get involved in the Our Rivers campaign
Dowload the full report
Rivers on the edge report
Our partners
WWF would like to acknowledge support and input from:
Action for the River Kennet
Artesia Consulting
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Charles Rangeley-Wilson
Waterwise
Professor Rob Wilby, Loughborough University