The second phase review of UK environmental standards and conditions for the Water Framework Directive (WFD) has now closed and summary documents published. The review has been undertaken by the WFD United Kingdom Technical Advisory Group (UKTAG) - a working group of experts drawn from the UK environment and conservation agencies – set up to provide coordinated advice to Government on technical aspects of the Directive.

Publishing his Department's Annual Report, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn reaffirmed Defra's commitment to helping people live within their environmental means and acknowledged the role of staff in some key achievements over the past year.

On 23 March 2007, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published a consultation on proposals to modernise the legislation on hosepipe bans.

Defra has published regulations extending the areas of England designated as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) from 55% to around 70% - reflecting the Government's decision to continue designating the zones on a selective basis rather than adopt the whole territory approach of some Member States.

Defra has launched the Government’s new water strategy to help secure and maintain water supplies, reduce water pollution and tackle surface water flooding.

Defra has published an outline of a proposed new National Flood Emergency Framework. This fulfils a commitment made by Hilary Benn on 25 June 2008, following the publication of Sir Michael Pitt's final independent report into the summer 2007 floods.

The House of Commons Public Accounts committee has criticised Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for failures in its report on how Defra manages its expenditure, concluding that policy and operational delivery within the Department and its delivery bodies have been adversely affected by financial management failings.

The government is seeking feedback on proposed amendments to the Groundwater Regulations 1998.

A comprehensive guidance note has been released by DEFRA, setting out expectations in relation to river basin planning.

With the global population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, economic development spurring demand for more and better food, and increased hydrological variability caused by climate change, a review of the World Bank Group’s water strategy is calling for better information and a more integrated approach to water management.