| Key functions | Non-tidal river (above Teddington Weir) | Tidal river (London area) | Tidal river (below London to sea) | Central Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservancy of River | Thames Conservancy | Port of London Authority (PLA). Greater London Council (GLC) water quality surveys | PLA | Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHLG) Water Resources Board (WRB) |
| Flood Protection | Riparian local authorities Thames Conservancy (Thames and other 'main rivers') | GLC responsible for 'London Excluded Area' (see 1960), including 'Main Metropolitan Watercourses' London Boroughs responsible for other (non-main) 'metropolitan watercourses' Riparian London Boroughs Lea Conservancy Catchment Board some functions in Lea catchment | Riparian local authorities Essex River Board ('main rivers') Kent River Authority ('main rivers') PLA some duties | MHLG Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (MAFF): Land Drainage & Water Supplies Division |
| Land Drainage | Thames Conservancy (Thames and 'main rivers') | GLC responsible for 'London Excluded Area' (see 1960), including 'Main Metropolitan Watercourses'. London Boroughs responsible for 'ordinary metropolitan watercourses'. Lea Conservancy Catchment Board some functions in Lea catchment | Essex River Authority ('main rivers'). Kent River Authority ('main rivers'). Internal Drainage Boards (ordinary watercourses), e.g. Lower Medway IDB and Upper Medway IDB | MAFF: Land Drainage & Water Supplies Division |
| Navigation / Pilotage | Thames Conservancy | PLA Pilotage: Trinity House | Ministry of Transport | |
| Pollution Control | Thames Conservancy | PLA (increased powers under Port of London Act 1964), including control of tidal portions of Thames tributaries GLC: water quality surveys on Thames; responsibility for non-tidal tributaries above London Bridge Lea Conservancy Catchment Board responsibility for River Lea above South Boundary Stones (Canning Town) | PLA (increased powers under Port of London Act 1964) Essex and Kent River Authorities: responsibility for non-tidal Thames tributaries within authority areas | MHLG |
| Port / Harbour Authority | Not applicable | PLA | Ministry of Transport National Ports Council | |
| Recreation | Thames Conservancy | PLA River Dept as part of navigation duties | Ministry of Transport | |
| Riverside Planning | Riparian local authorities | Riparian London Boroughs (x14) Strategic planning: GLC | Riparian local authorities | MHLG |
| Note: nature protection sites include Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), National Nature Reserves (NNRs), Local Nature Reserves (LNRs). For the Greater Thames estuary area e.g. this included the SSSI at South Thames Estuary and Marshes, first notified in 1951 | Natural Environment Research Council (1965-73), responsible to the Secretary of State for Education and Science | |||
| Sewerage | Local authority undertakings | GLC | Local authority undertakings | MHLG |
| Water Supply | Local authority undertakings, joint boards, statutory private companies. Thames Conservancy some powers over water resources | Metropolitan Water Board | Local authority undertakings, joint boards, statutory private water companies | MHLG. Plus water resources planning/oversight by WRB (under Ministry for Land and Natural Resources, 1965-67) |