Water resources for the future - the Abberton Scheme New waters run deep

In an average year, around 70% of the water supplied in the area is sourced from within the county. This water is obtained almost entirely from two large pumped storage , Hanningfi eld - on the outskirts of , and Abberton. These are both fi lled from local rivers with the remaining 30% imported from outside the county.

In a dry year, up to a third of the store an increased volume of water was the most viable water needed to supply Essex comes option from an environmental, engineering and economic from the Ely Ouse to Essex transfer perspective. scheme (EOETS) which transfers water from Denver in via water courses, pipelines and pumping The stations to the Rivers Stour and Blackwater. It is then abstracted for transfer to Abberton and Situated in a scenic part of the Essex countryside, Hanningfi eld reservoirs. is the largest freshwater body in Essex with 472 hectares covered by water. The reservoir was Demand in Essex is predicted to rise constructed during the 1930s and completed by 1939. As by around 6% over the next 25 years, now, the reservoir was fi lled with water from local rivers almost entirely due to an increase including Layer Brook, and the River Stour. in population. Abberton Reservoir has developed into one of the most Combine this growth with a typically important sites in Britain for wildfowl, particularly as an dry climate – Essex on average overwintering habitat. The reservoir is a RAMSAR site receives half the national average ( of international importance for birds), a Special rainfall – and the need for a long- Protection Area, (designated under the EU Birds Directive) term and sustainable increase in and a Site of Special Scientifi c Interest (SSSI), also because water resources is clearly apparent. of the wildfowl.

Essex & Suffolk Water started the The company works in partnership with English Nature, planning, environmental studies and and other organisations who support consultation process for additional us in ensuring this resource is managed in a responsible water in 1993. Enlarging the reservoir and sustainable manner. Essex Wildlife Trust runs the at Abberton so it could capture and visitor centre at Abberton, partly funded by the company in conjunction with Borough Council.

2 Common Blue Water Vole Great Crested Grebe Damselfl y

The best option Consultation, investigation, communication......

The enlarged reservoir will have a During the early stages of investigation, Essex & Suffolk signifi cantly lower impact on the Water considered over 250 possible sites throughout East local environment than if an entirely Anglia for a new reservoir. The fi nal decision to enlarge new reservoir were to be built. The Abberton included careful assessment and consultation close proximity of the Layer treatment on how the additional water to fi ll the new or enlarged works, already used to treat the reservoir would be sourced. reservoir water for customer supply, will minimise the need for additional Those immediately affected by the Abberton Reservoir buildings near the reservoir. plans have been consulted over a number of years. A more widespread communications programme was introduced Extending the reservoir will provide an in the autumn of 2005, by which time Essex & Suffolk additional area of sheltered, shallow Water’s proposals were being fi nalised and the timings water margins for wildlife, particularly for the project becoming clearer. Information sessions, birds. The existing visitor centre will displays, newsletters, media contact, website, updates need to be relocated, which will allow and public meetings have all been used as part of the for improved facilities for visitor and company’s communications plan. community enjoyment. For a detailed list of who we have consulted (and continue to do so), please turn to page 11.

3 Where the additional water is coming from

During dry conditions, no additional water is available within Essex to supply the county. Essex has relied on transfers of water from the Ely Ouse in Norfolk to fi ll its reservoirs since the 1970s, during very dry periods.

The Environment Agency currently transfers water from Denver in Norfolk to Essex when it is needed to fi ll Abberton and Hanningfi eld reservoirs via the Ely Ouse to Essex Transfer Scheme (EOETS). Under the scheme, surplus water which would otherwise be lost to the Wash, is transferred to Essex.

Currently, water from the EOETS meets the following proportion of the demand in Essex: Unsupported Wet year – none required by Essex rivers 47% Essex & Suffolk Water Ely Ouse to Essex Transfer Average year – up to 7% Scheme 30% (in dry years) Dry year – 15% to 35% Bulk Supply import from Thames Water to 20% Due to current pumping and storage Groundwater 3% constraints, Essex & Suffolk Water cannot always fully utilise water when it is available in the River Stour. The enlarged reservoir and the additional intake from the River Stour at will provide the opportunity to abstract and store additional water from the River Stour during high fl ow conditions The Denver Complex which usually occur during the winter.

4 It is proposed to vary the Environment Agency’s abstraction licences at Denver and Blackdyke in Norfolk, which control the amount of water transferred to Essex. This will provide the additional water required for transfer to fi ll an enlarged Abberton Reservoir.

A detailed study of the possible effects of the change in volume of water transferred has been ongoing since 1996.

In 1964, a Ministry of Housing study highlighted future problems with water supply due to expansion, development and the population increase anticipateed in the south Essex area. The solution was to transfer surplus water from the Ely Ouse to Essex rivers, thereby increasing their fl ows and making extra water available. The Denver complex is managed by the Environment Agency as part of its fl ood defence system.

5 River Stour

6 Transferring the water to Abberton Reservoir

Water is currently brought from Norfolk to Abberton and Hanningfi eld reservoirs

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In order to transfer additional water to R W r i Abberton Reservoir, the existing system e ss iv ey R Denver needs to be uprated. This will involve a d r Complex fo d new pipeline which will run parallel to the e Blackdyke Intake B e s upper Stour and extra pumps at Kennett w u e C O C N u h y t pumping station. l a - tle Ouse o it n L E n f f e

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) s We plan to lay two underground pipelines, k r L o a w one from Kirtling Green in Suffolk to Wixoe r t k n Kennett e tm on the Essex/Suffolk border where the a e tr r additional water will be put into the River te a w d Stour. The second, is from Wormingford, Glem te ia c o Kirtling Green s Essex, where the additional water will be Brett s a d n a abstracted from the river and transferred ( S m t d to Abberton Reservoir. Each pipeline will o a r m u h o a Wixoe r g tf th n a n be 1200mm diameter and approximately a r a Wormingford L t r S 16kms long. B

Bla ckw The route to enhance existing transfers has ate C C r olne he been chosen as the most benefi cial after lm e examining a number of different options. r Environment Agency Abberton Reservoir Enhancement The possible effects on the River Stour EOETS pumping stations Main ESW pumping and pipeline routes are being thoroughly station New ESW pumping investigated by consultants working for station Essex & Suffolk Water. Existing Ely Ouse to Essex Transfer Scheme (EA control)

Existing Transfer A more detailed pipeline route can be seen Route from Stour to Abberton Reservoir on our website www.eswater.co.uk. (ESW) Pipeline route Proposed new pipeline Or call 01245 212862 for a copy. routes

7 Enlarging the reservoir

The proposal is to raise the main dam Essex & Suffolk Water is working closely and top water level of the reservoir by 3.2 with English Nature, Essex Wildlife Trust metres. This will provide an additional 60% and the RSPB to enhance the reservoir as of raw water storage, but will require far part of the Scheme. The enhancement less additional land than a new reservoir. proposals incorporate areas of shallow The surface area will be increased from 4.7 water as habitat for feeding waterfowl, as square kilometres to 6.7 square kilometres. well as other measures – including concrete removal – that are intended not just to As well as raising the main dam, the maintain but to increase the reservoir’s enlargement will involve: value for wildfowl.

• building a number of smaller col dams Opportunities for outdoor recreation and around the edge of the reservoir. access to the reservoir which will not • relocating the Essex Wildlife Trust visitor have a negative effect on the wildfowl centre to a larger site population are being explored with • diverting the B1026 and raising the relevant stakeholders. causeway

Given the importance of the reservoir as an internationally important wetland site, it is essential that the habitat there is protected before, during and after construction.

Phragmites reed

8 Existing Spillway Roman River P.S. and Valve Tower to be Modified to be Raised Main Dam Existing Inlet Pipes to be Diverted

Resisiting of Rye Borrow Inlet Works Pit (A) Blind Knights Borrow Pit (B) Gas Main to Draw-Off Pipelines to be Diverted (New Layer WTW to be Altered Pipeline to Langham Alignment TBC) WTW to be Re-aligned B1026 (New Alignment TBC) as Necessary Birch Green Gas Main to be Diverted (New Alignment TBC) Site Compond North New Electrical Building on Headland To South and Existing Site of Essex Wildlife Trust Wildfowl Mid-Essex Divisions and Visitor Centre (To be Abandoned) New Inlet Structure Existing Offtake Pumping Station to be De-Commissions and Re-built Temporary Shore-based Pumping Station ABBERTON RESERVOIR Glebe Col Dam Proposed B1026 Road Diversion Causeway Pumping Station and Draw-Off Chamber Relocated Site of Essex Wildlife Trust Wildfowl Layer Breton and Visitor Centre

B1026 Raised Causeway Peldon Col Dam

Stafford’s Bund

Site Compond Havey’s South Borrow Pit (D) Extent of raised top water level Proposed Wormingford to Abberton pipeline Moulsham Col Dam Proposed perimeter road B1026 Abbots Bund Garr Landscape Area

Map of enlarged Abberton reservoir

Mute Swan

9 Supporting the Timescales

community These are approximate and clearly depend on the outcome of the planning application and requirements of the Essex & Suffolk Water has set up Secretary of State. the Abberton Scheme Community Fund to enable local voluntary or community organisations to apply Spring 2007 Submit planning applications for the Abberton Scheme for a grant. Managed by the Essex 2008/9 Decision Community Foundation, the fund Summer Work starts on pipelines to carry water was launched in May 2006 and will focus on environmental, social and 2009 to Abberton charitable activities in areas affected Winter 2010 Pipelines completed by the enlargement of the reservoir. 2010 Construction work begins at reservoir It’s the company’s way of saying 2013 Enlarged reservoir starts to receive water ‘thank you’ for the co-operation of 2014 Reservoir fully operational these communities.

How to fi nd out more

Our website is regularly updated to carry news about the Abberton Scheme. www.eswater.co.uk

If you would like us to send you information as it is produced (about twice a year), please email [email protected] and she will add Local groups benefi t from the your name to the circulation list. Our telephone Abberton Community Fund number for enquiries is 08457 820 999

10 Abberton & Langenhoe Ely Parish Council Manea Parish Council Who we’ve been Parish Council English Heritage Middle Level Commissioners Aldham Parish Council English Nature - Beds, Nayland and Wissington talking to... Anglian Water Services Cambs. & Northants. Parish Council Associated British Ports Local Team; Essex Team; NFU – Eastern Area Babergh District Council Norfolk Team; Suffolk Team; Norfolk Anglers & Maritime/Land Use Planning Birch Parish Council Conservation Association Environment Agency Bluntisham Parish Council Norfolk County Council Essex County Council Council Essex Wildlife Trust The British Association for Ramblers Association Shooting & Conservation Feltwell Parish Council River Stour Trust British Canoe Union Fenland District Council Royal Yachting Association British Horse Society Fordham Parish Council RSPB (Eastern Regional Byways and Bridleways Trust Forest Heath District Council Offi ce, Ouse Washes Reserve Cambridgeshire County Great Bradley Parish Council and Snettisham Reserve) Council Great Ouse Boating South Holland Internal Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust Association Drainage Board Campaign for the Protection Great Thurlow Parish Council Stanway Parish Council of Rural Great Wratting Parish Council St Edmundsbury District Country Landowners Huntingdon District Council Council Association Highways Agency Stoke Ferry Parish Council Colchester BC Hilgay Parish Council Suffolk County Council Colne Parish Council Inland Waterways Association Suffolk Preservation Society Countryside Agency Kedington Parish Council Dedham Vale and Stour King’s Lynn Conservancy Sutton Parish Council Valley Project Board Watlington Parish Council Defra King’s Lynn Consortium of Welney Parish Council Denver Parish Council Internal Drainage Boards Wiggenhall St Germans Department for Communities King’s Lynn Fishing Industry Parish Council and Local Government Co-operative Ltd Wiggenhall St Mary Downham Consortium of King’s Lynn Vessel Owners & Magdalen Parish Council Internal Drainage Broads Skippers Association Wildfowl & Wetland Trust Downham Market Town King’s Lynn & West Wixoe Parish Council Council Norfolk BC Wormingford Parish Council East Cambridgeshire Kingston Marine ...and others District Council Layer de la Haye Eastern Sea Fisheries Parish Council Joint Committee Littleport Parish Council Earith Parish Council Little Bradley Parish Council Eight Ash Green Little Downham Parish Council Parish Council Little Wratting Parish Council

11 Essex & Suffolk Water Hall Street Chelmsford CM2 0HH www.eswater.co.uk

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October 2006