Careless people can also pollute rivers and harm wildlife by pouring things like used car oil and paint into drains. Rubbish dumps create a strong chemical cocktail called leachate. This can be deadly to fish, small water creatures and plants. In modern waste sites great care is taken to ensure that none escapes, but leachate from older rubbish dumps seeps into rivers and can pollute our drinking water. Protecting rivers and streams Both the European Union and the British government are concerned about water pollution.
Water quality is protected by many different laws.
England's first water pollution act of 1388 made it illegal to dump animal remains, dung or garbage into rivers. Anyone breaking that particular law in those days could be hanged. The most important modern legislation is the Water Resources Act of 1991. It instructs the Environment Agency to police the use of water in England and Wales. The Environment Agency manages fisheries, flood defence, navigation, recreation and nature conservation.