The Environment Agency (EA) is an executive non-departmental public body, established in 1996 and sponsored by the UK government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). It is responsible for protecting and improving the environment in England.
Core Responsibilities
- Flood Risk Management: As the principal authority for flood risk, it operates defences like the Thames Barrier, issues flood warnings, and manages over 22,000 miles of rivers and 3,100 miles of coastline.
- Regulation & Enforcement: The EA regulates major industries, waste management (including landfill and recycling), and water quality. It has the power to issue environmental permits and carry out criminal prosecutions for pollution or illegal waste dumping.
- Conservation & Navigation: It manages 634 miles of navigable inland waterways and works to protect biodiversity and fisheries.
- Climate Change: The agency helps businesses and communities adapt to climate change through research and strategic planning.
Critical Contact Information
- Incident Hotline (24/7): 0800 80 70 60 — Use this to report environmental problems like pollution, illegal waste dumping, or dead fish.
- Floodline (24/7): 0345 988 1188 — Call for live flood updates and flood preparation advice.
- General Enquiries: 03708 506 506 (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm).
Current Developments (February 2026)
- Flood Alerts: As of February 11, 2026, over 160 flood alerts and numerous warnings are active across England, particularly in Somerset, Dorset, and Hampshire, due to exceptionally high groundwater and river levels.
- Enforcement Expansion: The EA has recently increased its water enforcement team fivefold (from 41 roles in 2023 to 195 in early 2026) to better tackle water company pollution and improve regulatory culture.
- Evenlode Project: A major £100m “Evenlode Landscape Recovery” project was recently announced to restore rivers and build climate resilience across 3,000 hectares of the Cotswolds.