The Water Framework Directive is the most important piece of environmental legislation in recent years. It aims to promote the sustainable management of all waters, including canals in Scotland . British Waterways Scotland continues to be an active participant, liaising with Scottish Executive Water Team and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.

New regulation will mean that for the first time in 200 years we will have to pay to extract water from its own reservoirs and seek licenses for some engineering activities on our canals.

The potential impacts on our business are enormous, but we are confident that through close partnership working the application of the directive will be fair and proportionate.