The supply, usage, treatment and disposal of water is a pressing current issue; not least in view of the unique ecology of our chalk streams. Most of these are already degraded owing to over-abstraction from the aquifer and being overburdened by resulting lower natural flows and increased waste-water - that is more or less adequately treated!

Further degradation will result from high levels of development unless there is, a farsighted strategy, involving all the key players together with an action plan that is well-resourced and recognises the URGENCY of improving the current unacceptable state of most of the watercourses in the plan area. There will, of course, be a need for working closely with adjoining areas for rivers and stream whose catchments stretch beyond the Greater Cambridge Plan boundaries.