UK Statutory Instrument SI 2017/407 England and Wales

The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017

These Regulations revoke and replace the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/3242) (“the 2003 Regulations”) which have been amended by several instruments. They continue to transpose for England and Wales Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for …

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Enforced by
Ofwat, OEP, DEFRA, NRW
Status
In Force
Penalty ceiling
Regulated

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Plus 22 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

What it requires

Regulations creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Schedules

Schedules

0 of 83 shown
83 other schedules
s.sch001 Directive definitions (opens in a new tab)
s.sch001 (1) In the definitions in paragraph (2) (which derive from...
s.sch002 Enactments in relation to which duties in regulation 3 apply (opens in a new tab)
s.sch002 Section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 .
s.sch002 The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 .
s.sch002 Section 61 of the Water Act 2014 (regulation of the...
s.sch002 The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 .
s.sch002 The Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994...
s.sch002 The Water Protection Zone (River Dee Catchment) (Procedural and Other...
s.sch002 The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 ....
s.sch002 The Water Resources (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations...
s.sch002 The Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations...
s.sch002 The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009 ....
s.sch002 The Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 .
s.sch002 The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 .
s.sch002 The Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural...
s.sch002 The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021....
s.sch002 The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Establishment) Order 2012 ....
s.sch002 The Bathing Water Regulations 2013 .
s.sch002 The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021....
s.sch002 The Keeping and Introduction of Fish (Wales) Regulations 2014 ....
s.sch002 The Keeping and Introduction of Fish (England and River Esk...
s.sch002 The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 .
s.sch002 The Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 .
s.sch002 The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (England) Regulations 2015 ....
s.sch002 Parts 2 and 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990...
s.sch002 The Water Environment (Control of Pollution) (Oil Storage) (Wales) Regulations...
s.sch002 The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 .
s.sch002 Part 4 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (sewerage services)...
s.sch002 Parts 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 of the...
s.sch002 The Land Drainage Act 1991 .
s.sch002 The Environment Act 1995 .
s.sch002 Sections 3, 4, 10, 81 and 83 of the Water...
s.sch002 Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009...
s.sch003 EU instruments for the protection of water (opens in a new tab)
s.sch003 Council Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste-water treatment .
s.sch003 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council...
s.sch003 Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council...
s.sch003 Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution...
s.sch003 Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and...
s.sch003 Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for...
s.sch003 Directive 2006/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council...
s.sch003 Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council...
s.sch003 Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council...
s.sch003 Directive 2009/147/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council...
s.sch003 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council...
s.sch004 Consequential amendments (opens in a new tab)
s.sch004 The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (Northumbria River Basin District) Regulations 2003
s.sch004 The Flood Risk Regulations 2009
s.sch004 The Marine Strategy Regulations 2010
s.sch004 The Bathing Water Regulations 2013
s.sch004 The London Underground (Northern Line Extension) Order 2014
s.sch005 Modification of directives (opens in a new tab)
s.sch005 A reference to the WFD, or to any provision of...
s.sch005 Article 24 is to be ignored.
s.sch005 Annex 1 is to be ignored.
s.sch005 Annex 2 is to be read as if—
s.sch005 Annex 4 is to be read as if—
s.sch005 Annex 5 is to be read as if—
s.sch005 Annex 6 is to be read as if Part A...
s.sch005 Annex 7 is to be read as if, in Part...
s.sch005 A reference to the GWD, or to any provision of...
s.sch005 When interpreting the GWD for the purposes of these Regulations—...
s.sch005 Article 3 is to be read as if—
s.sch005 When interpreting the WFD for the purposes of these Regulations—...
s.sch005 Article 5 is to be read as if, in each...
s.sch005 Article 6(4) is to be read as if the words...
s.sch005 Article 12 is to be ignored.
s.sch005 Annex 1 is to be read as if—
s.sch005 Annex 2 is to be read as if, in Part...
s.sch005 A reference to the EQSD, or to any provision of...
s.sch005 When interpreting the EQSD for the purposes of these Regulations—...
s.sch005 Article 3 is to be read as if—
s.sch005 Article 4 is to be read as if—
s.sch005 Article 5 is to be read as if—
s.sch005 Article 2(24) is to be read as if, for the...
s.sch005 The following Articles are to be ignored—
s.sch005 Article 4 is to be read as if—
s.sch005 Article 7(2) is to be read as if—
s.sch005 Article 10 is to be ignored.
s.sch005 Article 11(3) is to be read as if—
s.sch005 Article 12 is to be ignored.
s.sch005 Article 15 is to be ignored.
s.003 Duties on ministers and regulators Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Ministers and Regulators must protect water status when granting permitsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.004 Map of river basin districts Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Environment Agency (and NRW in Wales) must produce and publish the river basin district map and provide access to it at their …Statutory regulator
s.005 Characterisation of river basin districts Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Regulators must review and update river basin district characteristicsStatutory regulator
s.006 Classification of water bodies Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Environment Agency must classify the status of water bodiesStatutory regulator
s.007 Economic analysis of water use in river basin districts Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Government must conduct economic analysis of water use in river basin districtsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.008 Bodies of water used for the abstraction of drinking water Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • The appropriate agency must identify drinking-water protected areasStatutory regulator
s.009 Designation of shellfish waters Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Government must review and maintain the list of protected shellfish watersCrown / Minister / Government department
s.010 Register of protected areas Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Relevant agency must maintain and update a register of protected water areasStatutory regulator
s.011 Monitoring programmes Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Water agencies must establish and review water quality monitoring programmesStatutory regulator
s.012 Procedure for setting environmental objectives and programmes of measures Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Environment Agency must set water objectives and consult the publicStatutory regulator
s.021 Charges for water services Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Government must ensure water pricing encourages efficiency and cost recoveryCrown / Minister / Government department
s.022 Further programmes of measures in relation to certain priority substances Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Environment Agency must implement water quality measures for priority substancesStatutory regulator
s.025 Action where environmental objectives are unlikely to be achieved Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Regulators must investigate and act if water quality targets are missedStatutory regulator
s.027 River basin management plans: content Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Relevant authorities must include specific water data in management plansCrown / Minister / Government department
s.028 Review of river basin management plans Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Environment Agency must review and update river basin management plansStatutory regulator
s.029 River basin management plans: public participation Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Environment Agency must consult the public on river basin management plansStatutory regulator
s.030 River basin management plans: submission for approval Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Regulator must publish and make river basin management plans accessibleStatutory regulator
s.031 River basin management plans: approval Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Government and Agencies must publish updated river basin management plansCrown / Minister / Government department
s.032 Supplementary plans Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • If the appropriate agency prepares a supplementary plan, it must consult stakeholders on itStatutory regulator
s.033 River basin management plans: duties on public bodies Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Public bodies must consider river basin management plans in their decisionsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.034 Publication of information Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Environment Agency must publish water management data and progress reportsStatutory regulator
s.035 Provision of information and assistance Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Public bodies must provide information and assistance to environmental agenciesLocal authority
17 other provisions
s.001 Citation, commencement, extent and application
s.002 Interpretation
s.013 The environmental objectives
s.014 Environmental objectives: application of regulations 15 to 19
s.015 Artificial or heavily modified water bodies
s.016 Extended deadlines for environmental objectives
s.017 Setting less stringent environmental objectives
s.018 Natural causes or force majeure
s.019 Modifications to physical characteristics of water bodies
s.020 Content of programmes of measures
s.023 Action in relation to plant protection and biocidal products
s.024 Implementation of programmes of measures
s.026 Application of this Part
s.036 Directions
s.037 Revocation
s.038 Transitional provision
s.039 Consequential amendments

Help complying

Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.

Environmental compliance for manufacturers

A comprehensive introduction to environmental compliance for manufacturing businesses. Covers permits, air emissions, water discharge, waste management, and packaging obligations.

Water Framework Directive compliance for businesses

Complete compliance pathway for businesses whose activities may affect water body status — from understanding the WFD framework through identifying which licences, …

Understanding the Water Framework Directive for businesses

How the Water Framework Directive shapes UK water regulation — river basin management, water body classification, the no-deterioration principle, and what it …
3 more guides that reference this instrument
Apply for a water abstraction licence Get a water discharge permit Get authorisation for a water activity in Scotland (EASR)

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.