Sustainable Cheshire Forum Themes

Water has a special significance in Cheshire. It has been a major factor in the success of the county's traditional industries from the early 20th Century onward. Salt extraction, movement of goods by canal and the Mersey Estuary are all examples. Cheshire has more waterbodies than any other county, made up of rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, mire's and canals. The quality of these watercourses is essential to all other forms of life.

Although there has been a reduction in the numbers of pollution incidents and a continuing improvement in the quality of Cheshire's rivers and streams, in 2000, approximately 12% are still classified as "poor" or "bad" by the Environment Agency. The national target is to reduce this to 9% or better by the year 2005. This drive towards greater improvement is reinforced by the Mersey Basin Campaign's emerging long term objective of the return of salmon to the watercourses of the North West. Local partnerships will work with the Environment Agency and United Utilities to support these aims.

Actions to be taken include improvements to waste water treatment works, improvements to consented discharges, quantification of point source and diffuse pollution from farms and the development of an action plan to prioritise farm visits. Specific watercourses will also be targeted. The river Weaver and it's navigation, for example, has significant stretches that are currently classified as poor quality and work will be undertaken to tackle the legacy of industrial discharges. At the same time, studies of the Manchester Ship canal will be carried out to identify the actions needed to improve the quality of the water and identify the physical barriers that currently prevent the migration of salmon into and along Cheshire's watercourses.

Recently the issue of flooding as become more acute as we become more aware of the risks posed by climate change. As a lowland county, Cheshire is susecptible to flooding in certain areas. The Environment Agency website has a postcode search so you check to see whether your property would be at risk, click here to go to these pages.


Sustainable Cheshire Forum Water

	Water has a special significance in Cheshire. It has been a major factor in the success of the county's traditional industries from the early 20th Century onward. Salt extraction, movement of goods by canal and the Mersey Estuary are all examples. Cheshire has more waterbodies than any other county, made up of rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, mire's and canals. The quality of these watercourses is essential to all other forms of life. Although there has been a reduction in the numbers of pollution incidents and a continuing improvement in the quality of Cheshire's rivers and streams, in 2000, approximately 12% are still classified as "poor" or "bad" by the Environment Agency. The national target is to reduce this to 9% or better by the year 2005. This drive towards greater improvement is reinforced by the Mersey Basin Campaign's emerging long term objective of the return of salmon to the watercourses of the North West. Local partnerships will work with the Environment Agency and United Utilities to support these aims. Actions to be taken include improvements to waste water treatment works, improvements to consented discharges, quantification of point source and diffuse pollution from farms and the development of an action plan to prioritise farm visits. Specific watercourses will also be targeted. The river Weaver and it's navigation, for example, has significant stretches that are currently classified as poor quality and work will be undertaken to tackle the legacy of industrial discharges. At the same time, studies of the Manchester Ship canal will be carried out to identify the actions needed to improve the quality of the water and identify the physical barriers that currently prevent the migration of salmon into and along Cheshire's watercourses. Recently the issue of flooding as become more acute as we become more aware of the risks posed by climate change. As a lowland county, Cheshire is susecptible to flooding in certain areas. The Environment Agency website has a postcode search so you check to see whether your property would be at risk, click here to go to these pages.