Water Strategy for Wales Launched

The Welsh Government has published its first Water Strategy, promising a 'more integrated approach' to the management of water and other natural resources in Wales over the next 20 years

The strategy's overarching aim is to ensure that natural resources are managed in a more sustainable way, while ensuring an affordable, high quality water and wastewater services for the country. It recognises that to achieve these aims, a more collaborative approach between different stakeholders is needed and it envisages area-based decision-making, building on the approach outlined in the Environment (Wales) Bill.

"Historically, our natural resources, including land and water, have not always been managed in a way that takes adequate account of the connections between environmental, social and economic outcomes, or in a way that emphasises the importance of sustaining our environment in the long-term in order to improve the quality of life for present and future generations," the introduction to strategy reads. "We have made improvements in the way that we manage our water resources, driven in part by European legislation and meeting set standards. However, we want to do more than simply meet these standards. We will build upon this current practice to take a more integrated approach to natural resource management as a whole."

The strategy will see the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales work together to expand the role of River Basin Management Liaison Panels, to engage communities in a catchment-based, local approach which is better suited to meeting the challenges of diffuse pollution. Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes will be encouraged as part of plans to engage landowners, while abstraction licensing will be reformed.

Other actions laid out in the strategy include further research on tackling ‘water poverty' and affordability, a review of the Private Water Supplies regulations for Wales, implementing sustainable drainage for all new developments and greater collaboration with water companies over long-term planning.

The Water Strategy for Wales is supported by a Strategic Environmental Assessment and a Habitats Regulations Assessment.

Source: WWT

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Taxonomy

• Strategic Planning
• Environment
• Water Management