Water companies in England are among more than 60 organisations who have signed up to a new Catchment Management Declaration to tackle increasing pressures on UK water resources through improved catchment management.

The declaration, created by a cross sector of companies with the support of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), The Rivers Trust and Business in the Community was launched this week at a Water Summit attended by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, who presented a speech at the event.

Anglian Water, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Greater London Authority, Nestle, M&S, River Trust, Business in the Community and CISL came together to create the Declaration to gather commitment and action for a multisector approach to catchment management.

The initiative recognises the importance of collaboration across the public-private boundary and supports the delivery of government’s 25 year Environment Plan which calls for a step change in how water catchment areas are managed.

Gemma Cranston, CISL’s Programme Director for Natural Capital said:

“Managing our water resources effectively requires a collaborative approach in order to deliver real benefits for the environment, economy and local communities. This is recognised by the many organisations that have signed the Catchment Management Declaration today.”

Richard Aylard CVO, External Affairs & Sustainability Director at Thames Water said catchment management can - and must - now play a greater role, including in urban areas, where it can create much-needed green spaces for people to enjoy, as well as managing pressures on the environment.

Peter Simpson, Chief Executive of Anglian Water agreed, saying that continuing to manage the demand and impacts on water in the future, while balancing the needs of the environment, would only be possible by working collaboratively across water catchments.

Effective catchment management has the potential to harness natural processes to support a healthier environment and manage modern challenges such as rapid population growth and climate change; the biggest threats to the water system according to a recent study from the Environment Agency.

Click here to download the Catchment Management Declaration.