Water

Britain’s canals and rivers are enjoyed by millions of people each year, who each find their own way of enjoying the waterways. Whether they use the towpaths to cycle along, use the navigations to cruise along or simply to stroll along and spot the wildlife, there’s something central to everyone’s experience and enjoyment of the waterways - water.

In the warmer summer months, increased use of the waterways alongside evaporation, less rain and increased water uptake from plants means that managing the available water resource has become far trickier. In particularly dry years, like the one we had in 2011 and earlier this year, these problems can continue all year round.

However, maintaining water levels is not an act of God and keeping our 200 year-old canal system full requires careful management and planning. These pages will help you to learn more about how Canal & River Trust manages water.