| Key functions | Non-tidal river (above Teddington Weir) | Tidal river (London area) | Tidal river (below London to sea) | Central government | European Union / International |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservancy of river | Environment Agency (EA) | EA PLA some conservancy duties (oil; floating debris) | EA | EA, under Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) | Ramsar Convention Wetlands of International Importance (UK sites from 1976) EC Fish Directive 1978 (on the Quality of Fresh Waters Needing Protection or Improvement in order to Support Fish Life) EU Birds Directive 1979 (Special Protection Areas, SPAs) EU Shellfish Directive 1979 Drinking Water Abstraction Directive 1979 EU Drinking Water Directive 1980 EU Groundwater Directive 1980 EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 1991 EU Habitats Directive 1992 (Special Areas of Conservation, SACs) Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (1997/2003/2011) EU Directive on the Quality of Water intended for Human Consumption 1998 EU Water Framework Directive 2000 EU New Groundwater Directive 2006 EU Floods Directive 2007 EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008 (see also under Riverside Planning) |
| EA-run | EA-run , | ||||
| Flood protection | EA County Councils as Local Lead Flood Authority (LLFAs) | EA, including Thames Barrier London Boroughs as LLFAs GLA as Regional Planning body (London Regional Flood Risk Appraisal) Drain London Forum | EA County Councils as LLFAs | EA (under Defra) | |
| EA-run Regional Flood & Coastal Committees: Thames Regional Flood & Coastal Committee, Anglian Eastern Regional Flood & Coastal Committee, Southern Regional Flood & Coastal Committee). EA-run Flood Risk Management Plans by 2015 (overseen at EA Thames River Basin District level. See also: EA Anglian River Basin District, EA South East River Basin District, EA-run ) | |||||
| Land drainage | Environment Agency (EA): 'main rivers' | London Boroughs GLA strategic LD Drain London Forum | EA ('main rivers') and oversight of Internal Drainage Boards (ordinary watercourses), e.g. | EA (under Defra) | |
| EA-run Regional Flood & Coastal Committees: Thames Regional Flood & Coastal Committee, Anglian Eastern Regional Flood & Coastal Committee, Southern Regional Flood & Coastal Committee). EA-run Flood Risk Management Plans by 2015 (overseen at EA Thames River Basin District level. See also: EA Anglian River Basin District, EA South East River Basin District; EA ) | |||||
| Navigation / pilotage | Environment Agency | Port of London Authority (PLA) | Dept for Transport | ||
| Pollution control | Environment Agency | EA | EA | EA (under Defra) | |
| EA-run | EA-run , , | ||||
| Port | Not applicable | PLA (as Harbour Authority) Private port operators (Forth Ports at Tilbury; DP World developing London Gateway) | Dept for Transport / Marine Management Organisation (MMO) since 2010 | ||
| Recreation | EA Visit England | PLA Greater London Authority (GLA) / Transport for London | PLA | EA (under Defra) Dept for Culture, Media & Sport | |
| Thames Path National Trail | Countryside Commission (since 1996) | ||||
| Riverside planning | Riparian local authorities | Riparian London Boroughs (x 14) Strategic planning: GLA | Riparian local authorities | Department for Communities and Local Government Planning Inspectorate Environment Agency oversight (e.g. 'Encroachment Policy' for rivers) | |
| Note: nature protection sites across the Greater Thames Estuary include (among others) those designated as: SSSIs, e.g. South Thames Estuary and Marshes, Kent (1951, 1968, 1984), Inner Thames Marshes in Essex/Greater London (1986) and Mucking Flats and Marshes, Thurrock (1991); Special Protection Areas (Birds Directive) and Ramsar sites (e.g. (2000) and (2010); Nature Improvement Area under 2012 pilot scheme (the ) | Natural England (since 2006), responsible to Defra Marine Management Organisation (MPAs in English waters on continental shelf) | ||||
| Sewerage | Thames Water Utilities Limited (Thames Water) (plus 'water only' companies, under licence) | Thames Water; Anglian Water; Southern Water | EA (under Defra) | ||
| Water supply | Thames Water (plus 'water only' companies, under licence) | Thames Water; Anglian Water; Southern Water (plus licensed 'water only' companies) | EA (under Defra) Drinking Water Inspectorate (OFWAT economic regulator) | ||