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Title: Low flows and water resources : facts on the top 40 low flow rivers in England and Wales
Author: National Rivers Authority
Document Type: Monograph
Abstract:
Since the formation of the National Rivers Authority (NRA) in September 1989, considerable attention has been given both internally and externally to the problem of unacceptably low flows in some of our rivers. These are problems causcd by excessive authorised abstractions rather than due to drought, although of course, drought will exacerbate such problems. Most of the abstractions were authorised under the Water Resources Act 1963 which gave existing abstractors the right to a licence regardless of any environmental implications. As a first step in tackling these problems the NRA drew up a priority list of 40 locations perceived as suffering from excessive abstraction. From this list a top 20 schedule was drawn up representing those locations which would receive the most urgent attention. In most cases the cause of the low flows has been groundwater abstractions which have resulted in groundwater seepage to the surface being reduced or halted in some instances.
Publisher: National Rivers Authority
Publication Date: 1993
Publication Place: Bristol
Subject Keywords: RiversWater levelsFlow rateWater resourcesDroughtWater abstraction
Geographic Keywords: EnglandWales
Extent: 63
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:3190
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