Environmental compliance for manufacturers
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UK Statutory Instrument
2017
England and Wales
The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017
At a glance
Who this Act binds
Plus 24 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Water Framework Directive compliance for businesses
- 7 steps
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesMentioned in related content
3 guidesWhat this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — Introduction
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation, commencement, extent and application
Interpretation
Duties on ministers and regulators
Part 2 — River basin districts and water bodies
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Map of river basin districts
Characterisation of river basin districts
Classification of water bodies
Economic analysis of water use in river basin districts
Part 3 — Protected areas
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Bodies of water used for the abstraction of drinking water
Designation of shellfish waters
Register of protected areas
Part 4 — Monitoring
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Monitoring programmes
Part 5 — Environmental objectives and programmes of measures
Browse 14 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Procedure for setting environmental objectives and programmes of measures
The environmental objectives
Environmental objectives: application of regulations 15 to 19
Artificial or heavily modified water bodies
Extended deadlines for environmental objectives
Setting less stringent environmental objectives
Natural causes or force majeure
Modifications to physical characteristics of water bodies
Content of programmes of measures
Charges for water services
Further programmes of measures in relation to certain priority substances
Action in relation to plant protection and biocidal products
Implementation of programmes of measures
Action where environmental objectives are unlikely to be achieved
Part 6 — River basin management plans
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Application of this Part
River basin management plans: content
Review of river basin management plans
River basin management plans: public participation
River basin management plans: submission for approval
River basin management plans: approval
Supplementary plans
River basin management plans: duties on public bodies
Part 7 — General
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Publication of information
Provision of information and assistance
Directions
Revocation
Transitional provision
Consequential amendments
Schedules
Browse 83 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Directive definitions
(1) In the definitions in paragraph (2) (which derive from...
Enactments in relation to which duties in regulation 3 apply
Section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 .
The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 .
Section 61 of the Water Act 2014 (regulation of the...
The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 .
The Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994...
The Water Protection Zone (River Dee Catchment) (Procedural and Other...
The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 ....
The Water Resources (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations...
The Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations...
The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009 ....
The Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 .
The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 .
The Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural...
The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021....
The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Establishment) Order 2012 ....
The Bathing Water Regulations 2013 .
The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021....
The Keeping and Introduction of Fish (Wales) Regulations 2014 ....
The Keeping and Introduction of Fish (England and River Esk...
The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 .
The Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 .
The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (England) Regulations 2015 ....
Parts 2 and 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990...
The Water Environment (Control of Pollution) (Oil Storage) (Wales) Regulations...
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 .
Part 4 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (sewerage services)...
Parts 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 of the...
The Land Drainage Act 1991 .
The Environment Act 1995 .
Sections 3, 4, 10, 81 and 83 of the Water...
Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009...
EU instruments for the protection of water
Council Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste-water treatment .
Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council...
Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council...
Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution...
Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and...
Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for...
Directive 2006/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council...
Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council...
Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council...
Directive 2009/147/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council...
Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council...
Consequential amendments
The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (Northumbria River Basin District) Regulations 2003
The Flood Risk Regulations 2009
The Marine Strategy Regulations 2010
The Bathing Water Regulations 2013
The London Underground (Northern Line Extension) Order 2014
Modification of directives
A reference to the WFD, or to any provision of...
Article 24 is to be ignored.
Annex 1 is to be ignored.
Annex 2 is to be read as if—
Annex 4 is to be read as if—
Annex 5 is to be read as if—
Annex 6 is to be read as if Part A...
Annex 7 is to be read as if, in Part...
A reference to the GWD, or to any provision of...
When interpreting the GWD for the purposes of these Regulations—...
Article 3 is to be read as if—
When interpreting the WFD for the purposes of these Regulations—...
Article 5 is to be read as if, in each...
Article 6(4) is to be read as if the words...
Article 12 is to be ignored.
Annex 1 is to be read as if—
Annex 2 is to be read as if, in Part...
A reference to the EQSD, or to any provision of...
When interpreting the EQSD for the purposes of these Regulations—...
Article 3 is to be read as if—
Article 4 is to be read as if—
Article 5 is to be read as if—
Article 2(24) is to be read as if, for the...
The following Articles are to be ignored—
Article 4 is to be read as if—
Article 7(2) is to be read as if—
Article 10 is to be ignored.
Article 11(3) is to be read as if—
Article 12 is to be ignored.
Article 15 is to be ignored.
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections exist in the Act but the contents-of-Parts walker did not place them under a Part. Likely amendments or sections inserted out of the original Part structure.
Duties on ministers and regulators
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ministers and Regulators must protect water status when granting permits Crown / Minister / Government department
Map of river basin districts
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment Agency and NRW must publish and maintain river basin district maps Statutory regulator
Characterisation of river basin districts
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must review and update river basin district characteristics Statutory regulator
Classification of water bodies
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment Agency must classify the status of water bodies Statutory regulator
Economic analysis of water use in river basin districts
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government must conduct economic analysis of water use in river basin districts Crown / Minister / Government department
Bodies of water used for the abstraction of drinking water
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Appropriate agency must protect water bodies used for drinking water Statutory regulator
Designation of shellfish waters
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government must review and maintain the list of protected shellfish waters Crown / Minister / Government department
Register of protected areas
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Relevant agency must maintain and update a register of protected water areas Statutory regulator
Monitoring programmes
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Water agencies must establish and review water quality monitoring programmes Statutory regulator
Procedure for setting environmental objectives and programmes of measures
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment Agency must set water objectives and consult the public Statutory regulator
The environmental objectives
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Authorities must meet water quality and environmental protection targets Crown / Minister / Government department
Environmental objectives: application of regulations 15 to 19
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must apply water standards without compromising other water bodies Statutory regulator
Content of programmes of measures
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must establish and implement water protection programmes Statutory regulator
Charges for water services
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government must ensure water pricing encourages efficiency and cost recovery Crown / Minister / Government department
Further programmes of measures in relation to certain priority substances
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment Agency must implement water quality measures for priority substances Statutory regulator
Action where environmental objectives are unlikely to be achieved
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must investigate and act if water quality targets are missed Statutory regulator
River basin management plans: content
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Relevant authorities must include specific water data in management plans Crown / Minister / Government department
Review of river basin management plans
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment Agency must review and update river basin management plans Statutory regulator
River basin management plans: public participation
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment Agency must consult the public on river basin management plans Statutory regulator
River basin management plans: approval
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government and Agencies must publish updated river basin management plans Crown / Minister / Government department
Supplementary plans
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must consult stakeholders before creating supplementary water plans Statutory regulator
River basin management plans: duties on public bodies
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public bodies must consider river basin management plans in their decisions Crown / Minister / Government department
Publication of information
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Environment Agency must publish water management data and progress reports Statutory regulator
Provision of information and assistance
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Public bodies must provide information and assistance to environmental agencies Local authority
Browse 15 other unclassified sections
Citation, commencement, extent and application
Interpretation
Artificial or heavily modified water bodies
Extended deadlines for environmental objectives
Setting less stringent environmental objectives
Natural causes or force majeure
Modifications to physical characteristics of water bodies
Action in relation to plant protection and biocidal products
Implementation of programmes of measures
Application of this Part
River basin management plans: submission for approval
Directions
Revocation
Transitional provision
Consequential amendments
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Natural Resources Wales / How to carry out a Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessment for a marine licence application (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Natural Resources Wales / Activities that may be exempt from requiring a marine licence (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
- Natural Resources Wales / What to include in your marine development scoping report for EIA (opens in a new tab) from NRW Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Ofwat
PrimaryWater Services Regulation Authority
Economic regulator for the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales. Sets price limits, monitors service quality, and enforces environmental duties. …
Office for Environmental Protection
Independent body established post-Brexit to scrutinise environmental law and investigate complaints about public authorities' failures to comply with environmental law in England …
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works with agencies …
Natural Resources Wales
Principal environmental regulator for Wales. Combines functions of Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, and Forestry Commission Wales. Issues environmental permits, …
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