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<p>Defra and the Environment Agency are undertaking a wide range of measures to protect
and improve chalk streams - reducing abstraction, progressing measures on water conservation,
working to improve water quality and legislating through the Environment Bill.</p><p>
</p><p>Details of Government spend through the Water Environment Improvement Programme
are shown in an attachment.</p><p> </p><p>Further investment is made direct by water
companies. For example, Affinity Water and the Environment Agency have been working
together with other partners to protect and revitalise the rivers in the Chilterns.
The programme has reduced groundwater abstraction by 63 million litres of water a
day since 1993 and is committed to further reducing groundwater abstraction by 36
million litres of water a day by 2025. Affinity Water has committed to continuing
this work and has over 50 different restoration projects planned over the next five
years, representing an investment of over £17 million.</p><p> </p><p>To calculate
the exact spend by the Government and water industry on chalk streams in the past
would not be possible without further time and analysis. Future funding is conditional
on decisions that will be taken through the Spending Review.</p>
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