A coalition of 14 leading environmental organisations has issued a joint call to the Coalition Government to take action on wasted water, pollution and wetland wildlife.

The new Blueprint for Water 2010 sets out how the Government could ensure the health and sustainability of England’s water environment by 2015.

The report sets out proposals to reduce pollutants in the water environment and to make polluters pay for the damage they cause. It calls for the statutory limit on fines for polluters to be lifted and for greater enforcement of existing anti-pollution laws.

The coalition is also calling for fairer water pricing so bills reflect the amount of water households use, as with most other developed countries. The overall volume of water consumed needs to reduced by 20 per cent through less wastage, and abstraction licences should be revoked where they damage the ecology of rivers, lakes and wetlands.

The Blueprint is proposing for more of the existing EU money paid to farmers to be directed to environmental schemes on their land via reducing pesticide and fertiliser use, restoring peat bogs and tackling over-grazing to improve water quality and wildlife.

Rob Cunningham, Chair of the Blueprint for Water coalition, said:

“We all rely on water in our homes and businesses, on our farms and in our factories. It is also vital for a wide range of wildlife from fish and invertebrates to wading birds and mammals. It is a precious resource but all too often we take it for granted.“

A lot has happened since we launched the first Blueprint for Water four years ago but much more needs to be done by 2015 if we are going to ensure that our waters are clean, our wildlife is healthy and that we are best-placed to meet the impacts of climate change. We are resetting the challenge for a new decade and a new administration – as well as committing to actions of our own.“

Industry, Government, conservation bodies and the wider society all have a role to play in creating a sustainable water environment. We know this can be done and we know what steps need to be taken to achieve it – now we need to see real commitment from decision makers to ensure it happens.”

The pressure on rivers, wetlands, lakes and ponds has seen wading birds like curlew and snipe decline by up to 60 per cent, eel populations have been devastated and water voles, white clawed crayfish, Atlantic salmon and a host of other species are also threatened.Habitats and historic assets, which rely on clean and healthy water supplies are being lost from the landscape. Ninety per cent of raised lowland bogs, half of all ponds and 75 per cent floodplain grasslands have been lost in the past 100 years in the UK. Government figures also show that more than two thirds of river and England and Wales are failing European targets for water quality.

The Wildlife Trusts, Marine Conservation Society, RSPB and WWF-UK are among the organisations that make up the Blueprint for water coalition.