ABSTRACT
The basic principle involved is management of the water cycle through the supply, distribution and waste control chain. As well as catchment control and the use of the river system, usage and final disposal of waste water are important parts of this cycle (Fig. 39.1) The Water Act 1989 (consolidated into the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Water Resources Act 1991), embodied the principle
of managing the water cycle but did so by privatizing the water supply and sewage utilities. There were 10 water undertakers or companies (PLCs) set up under the Act. The original 29 statutory water companies were retained, but gained the power to become public companies. The Act made the regulatory functions and river basin management in England and Wales the responsibility of the National Rivers Authority (NRA). They were also given responsibility for the control of water pollution, management of water resources, fisheries, flood defence, land drainage and navigational functions. The NRA became part of the new Environment Agency (EA) on 1 April 1996, established by the Environment Act 1995, with eight regional areas in England and Wales:
Each region has the duty of appointing a regional fisheries, ecology and recreation advisory committee and in addition in Wales, the Secretary of State has a committee to advise him generally with respect to the EA. Two further nationalFig. 39.1 The water cycle.
