| Key functions | Non-tidal river (above Teddington Weir) | Tidal river (London area) | Tidal river (below London to sea) | Central Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservancy of River | Thames Conservancy | Port of London Authority (PLA). Greater London Council (GLC) water quality surveys | PLA | Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHLG) Water Resources Board (WRB) |
| Flood Protection | Riparian local authorities Thames Conservancy (Thames and other 'main rivers') | GLC responsible for 'London Excluded Area' (see 1960), including 'Main Metropolitan Watercourses' London Boroughs responsible for other (non-main) 'metropolitan watercourses' Riparian London Boroughs Lea Conservancy Catchment Board some functions in Lea catchment | Riparian local authorities Essex River Board ('main rivers') Kent River Authority ('main rivers') PLA some duties | MHLG Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (MAFF): Land Drainage & Water Supplies Division |
| Land Drainage | Thames Conservancy (Thames and 'main rivers') | GLC responsible for 'London Excluded Area' (see 1960), including 'Main Metropolitan Watercourses'. London Boroughs responsible for 'ordinary metropolitan watercourses'. Lea Conservancy Catchment Board some functions in Lea catchment | Essex River Authority ('main rivers'). Kent River Authority ('main rivers'). Internal Drainage Boards (ordinary watercourses), e.g. Lower Medway IDB and Upper Medway IDB | MAFF: Land Drainage & Water Supplies Division |
| Navigation / Pilotage | Thames Conservancy | PLA Pilotage: Trinity House | Ministry of Transport | |
| Pollution Control | Thames Conservancy | PLA (increased powers under Port of London Act 1964), including control of tidal portions of Thames tributaries GLC: water quality surveys on Thames; responsibility for non-tidal tributaries above London Bridge Lea Conservancy Catchment Board responsibility for River Lea above South Boundary Stones (Canning Town) | PLA (increased powers under Port of London Act 1964) Essex and Kent River Authorities: responsibility for non-tidal Thames tributaries within authority areas | MHLG |
| Port / Harbour Authority | Not applicable | PLA | Ministry of Transport National Ports Council | |
| Recreation | Thames Conservancy | PLA River Dept as part of navigation duties | Ministry of Transport | |
| Riverside Planning | Riparian local authorities | Riparian London Boroughs (x14) Strategic planning: GLC | Riparian local authorities | MHLG |
| Note: nature protection sites include (SSSIs), (AONBs), (NNRs), (LNRs). For the Greater Thames estuary area e.g. this included the SSSI at South Thames Estuary and Marshes, first notified in 1951 | Natural Environment Research Council (1965-73), responsible to the | |||
| Sewerage | Local authority undertakings | GLC | Local authority undertakings | MHLG |
| Water Supply | Local authority undertakings, joint boards, statutory private companies. Thames Conservancy some powers over water resources | Metropolitan Water Board | Local authority undertakings, joint boards, statutory private water companies | MHLG. Plus water resources planning/oversight by WRB (under Ministry for Land and Natural Resources, 1965-67) |