Blueprint for Water

A coalition of angling and other conservation bodies launched the Blueprint for Water yesterday.

Coalition members are;
The Anglers’ Conservation Association www.a-c-a.org
The Association of Rivers Trusts www.associationofriverstrusts.org.uk
The National Trust www.nationaltrust.org.uk
RSPB www.rspb.org.uk
The Salmon and Trout Association www.salmon-trout.org
Waterwise www.waterwise.org.uk
The Wildlife Trusts www.wildlifetrusts.org
WWF-UK www.wwf.org.uk
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust www.wwt.org.uk
The Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust which can be contacted on 01794 884736

10 steps for sustainable water by 2015

Waste less water
Reduce water consumption by at least 20% through more efficient use in homes, buildings and businesses

Keep our rivers flowing and wetlands wetKeep our rivers flowing and wetlands wet
Amend or revoke those water abstraction licences that damage rivers, lakes and wetlands

Price water fairly
Make household water bills reflect the amount of water people use

Make polluters pay
Ensure that those who damage the water environment bear the costs through more effective law enforcement and tougher penalties

Stop pollutants contaminating our water
Introduce targeted regulations to reduce harmful pollutants in water

Keep sewage out of homes and rivers and off beaches
Upgrade the sewage system to reduce discharges of sewage into urban environments and ecologically sensitive areas

Support water-friendly farming
Help farmers to prevent pollution and restore degraded soils, rivers and wetlands through advice, training and payments

Clean up drainage from roads and buildings
Construct modern drainage systems that prevent pollution entering rivers from buildings and roads

Restore rivers from source to sea
Regenerate rivers, lakes and wetlands in partnership with local communities

Retain water on floodplains and wetlands
Restore large areas of wetland and floodplain to create vital wildlife habitats, improve water quality and quantity, and reduce urban flooding

Take Action

Please write to your MP to ask him/her to sign up to the Blueprint for Water.

An Early Day Motion or EDM about the Blueprint for Water has now been tabled in the House of Commons. This EDM is like a petition; it is a statement about why the Blueprint is important and it urges the Government to implement its objectives. We need as many MPs as possible to sign this EDM to show their support for it.

MPs usually take more notice of letters from their constituents that are handwritten and unique. If you have time, please write to your MP in your own words and include the following points:

why water is important to you

the importance of the Blueprint for Water

the web address www.blueprintforwater.org.uk if the MP wants more details

ask your MP to support the Blueprint for Water by signing EDM

To find out the name of your MP, click on http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/ fill in the post code of your home and click on “search”.

All MPs can be reached at this address: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

Visit http://www.blueprintforwater.org.uk/index.html to find out more.