The Water White Paper published by Defra last week has come in for both further support and criticism from a range of organisations.

The RSPB said that although the Paper painted a stark picture of the climate pressure on rivers and wetlands, it had failed to tackle the problem of over abstraction which is currently threatening native river wildlife.

The environmental NGO said that while fundamental reform of the way water companies and others get abstraction licences by 2020 was promised, it did not set out how Government and regulators would deal with the legacy of decades of unsustainable abstraction.

Urgent reform needed on water abstraction

Rob Cunningham, RSPB Head of Water Policy, said:

“There is much in the Water White Paper we support. The commitment to tackle pollution for agriculture and urban areas through water company investment, catchment management and new regulation is particularly welcome.

“However many rivers in England have been running at dangerously low levels or have dried up completely this year with devastating impacts on wildlife, from fish to watervoles, dragonflies and birds. We need urgent reform of current abstraction licences to ensure that the right amount of water is being taken from the right places.”

“By simply deferring difficult decisions to further negotiations between companies and regulators the Government has failed to show clear leadership at a time when we need urgent action to tackle abstractions that are putting wildlife on the line.”

The RSPB said it welcomed a focus on climate change in the Water White Paper as well as the commitment to ensure water companies do more to tackle pollution at source, but remained unconvinced that sufficient resources were available to enforce existing legislation on pollution.

Paper should have addressed UK's water footprint

The Institution of Civil Engineers said it welcomed Government’s recognition of the value of water to society and for economic growth.

Chair of ICE’s water panel Michael Norton commented:

“Increasing pressures on water services are having a major impact on water resources so the commitment to drive forward strategic national infrastructure projects and measures to encourage water storage are very important.

”However we would have liked to see more acknowledgement of the UK’s high dependence on ‘virtual water’ embedded in imported goods. Businesses and domestic users alike need to be aware of their ‘water footprint’ and Government needs to drive this by setting the agenda for change.”

Engineering consultancy Mouchel has voiced strong support for the Paper, saying that it sets out a vision for the future of the water sector structured around key themes of innovation, resilience, customer focus and affordability.

Mouchel said that the White Paper had nevertheless signalled some “subtle but potentially profound changes” in the relationship between water companies, regulators, customers and the environment which could result in significant changes in the approaches to delivering and maintaining wastewater services in the future.

More competition on the cards between Scotland and rest of UK

The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) has also welcomed the Government’s proposals to introduce retail competition for water and sewerage services provided to business and public sector customers in England in partnership with the Scottish Government.

Alan Sutherland, Chief Executive of WICS said:

"We are pleased that customers south of the border will be able to enjoy the range of tailored services that have been available in Scotland for three years. This has already resulted in a better deal for more than 50% of Scottish businesses and public sector organisations.

"The proposals laid out in the White Paper should provide further opportunities for customers in Scotland by increasing the number of players in the market. They also mean that UK-wide outlets, such as supermarket chains, can enjoy similar benefits both sides of the border."

White paper poses difficult questions

Nick Ellins, President of the Institute of Water, the body which represents UK water industry professionals, said:

‘The Water White Paper clearly provides a complex challenge, posing some difficult questions that need to be answered. The Institute of Water Conference will bring together key experts to discuss the challenges ahead for the whole of the UK industry and what the likely implications will be.  If you want to hear from the very best people in this sector; understand the issues the industry is facing and ask the questions that you want answered then you should attend the Institute of Water Conference.”

The Institute's Annual Conference, which takes place in London in May 2012, will hear from Martin Baggs, Thames Water, Heidi Mottram, Northumbrian Water Spain) and Paul Leinster, Chief Executive at the Environment Agency  on the implications of the changes proposed in the Water White Paper.