Loading...
Explore England's rivers, lakes, reservoirs, canals and coastal waters on one interactive map, combining Ordnance Survey watercourse data with Environment Agency water quality classifications.
Updated: quarterly refresh from source agencies · Last checked by Maplify: July 2026
This layer maps the Ordnance Survey Open Rivers dataset — over 150,000km of watercourses across Great Britain, including named rivers, minor streams and navigable canals — alongside Environment Agency Water Framework Directive (WFD) water bodies covering natural lakes, reservoirs, estuarine and coastal waters, each with an ecological and chemical status rating.
River basin districts (Thames, Severn, Humber and others) group water bodies for strategic water quality management, useful context for nutrient neutrality and cumulative impact assessments.
Proximity to a watercourse affects consent requirements for nearby works, drainage strategy, and — where a water body is below Good Status — nutrient neutrality obligations for new development. Developers and environmental consultants check this layer to establish which authority's consent applies and what water quality context feeds into planning assessment.
Whether a watercourse is classified as a "main river" or an "ordinary watercourse" determines whether consent for nearby works sits with the Environment Agency or the Lead Local Flood Authority — an important distinction for site drainage planning.
Main river
Environment Agency consent required for works within 8 metres.
Ordinary watercourse
Lead Local Flood Authority consent required for nearby works.
WFD water body status
Good, Moderate, Poor or Bad — relevant to nutrient neutrality and cumulative impact assessment.
Development near a main river or ordinary watercourse requires formal consent from the relevant authority before works commence, and drainage strategies must account for the watercourse's flow regime. Where a catchment's water bodies are rated below Good Status, new development may need to demonstrate nutrient neutrality through on-site or off-site mitigation.
River basin district context is increasingly used in cumulative impact assessments for larger schemes, particularly where multiple developments draw on the same catchment.
Confirm whether a nearby watercourse is a main river or ordinary watercourse with the Environment Agency or Lead Local Flood Authority.
Apply for the relevant consent before any works within 8 metres of a watercourse.
Check the WFD status of the receiving water body for nutrient neutrality implications.
Factor river basin district context into the drainage strategy for larger schemes.
Check the Flood Risk Maps layer for the same site for the fuller flood risk picture.
This is general guidance, not professional or legal advice — confirm specifics with the relevant authority or a qualified professional.
Property Developers
Establish consent requirements and drainage strategy for sites near watercourses.
Environmental Consultants
Scope nutrient neutrality assessments from WFD status.
Planning Consultants
Advise on consenting authority and catchment-level context.
Landowners
Understand watercourse classification before commissioning land management works.
Water bodies rarely sit in isolation from other planning and environmental considerations.
What water data does the map show?
The Ordnance Survey river and stream network, named rivers and canals, plus Environment Agency Water Framework Directive (WFD) classified rivers, lakes and coastal waters with their ecological and chemical status.
What does WFD "Good Status" mean?
Good Status is the Water Framework Directive target for all water bodies — only a slight deviation from natural, near-pristine conditions. Moderate, Poor and Bad status reflect increasing degradation.
Do I need consent to work near a river?
Yes. Development within 8 metres of a main river needs Environment Agency consent, and works within 8 metres of an ordinary watercourse need Lead Local Flood Authority consent.
Can I use this map for a flood risk check?
Water body data helps you understand proximity to flood sources, but for a full flood risk picture use the dedicated Flood Risk Maps page.
How current is the water body data?
Ordnance Survey river network data and Environment Agency WFD classifications are refreshed quarterly from the source agencies.
Search any location to view rivers, lakes and water quality data alongside planning and flood information.
| Provider | Ordnance Survey / Environment Agency |
| Geometry type | Line (rivers), Polygon (lakes and coastal waters) |
| Coverage | England and Wales |
| Update schedule | Quarterly refresh from source agencies |
| Reference date | July 2026 |
| Licence | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
