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II. (Iff* Water Resources for the Future

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II. (Iff* Water Resources for the Future £ f\ - ( harv\eS Box 2 HTm l U U a II. t f i t T l- (iff* k t ~ i r tfj; public w^ter suppii ■ supplyV4 c a b stra cts a i f i deirti £ f b C f U L s p m Water resources for the future A STRATEGY FOR THAMES REGION March 2001 H E n v ir o n m e n t A g e n c y Published by: Environment Agency Kings Meadow House Kings Meadow Road Reading RG1 8DQ Tel: 01 18 953 5000 Fax: 0118 950 0388 ISBN 1857055179 © Environment Agency All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Environment Agency. ^ <z^ fts&cr\M c q -a OJ-A'T Foreword i i •__________ Water resources in the Thames Region are already The scenario approach we have used, developed from intensively managed and face further pressures as we the Government's Foresight "Environmental Futures”, look ahead into the new millennium. Playing host to emphasises the difficult choices we may need to make such a large, and growing, population imposes many in planning for sustainable development. We cannot and varied demands on our environment and natural provide complete answers at this stage; there are simply resources. Continuing economic development and too many uncertainties in the face of significant demand for a further 1.2 million homes in the south­ decisions regarding new strategic resource east as well as our own propensity to use more and requirements. We have, however, identified our more water in and around the home are set to increase priorities for urgent action in the short-term to resolve pressures on our water resources. these uncertainties and have identified a range of potential options that may need to be considered for Water also plays a valuable role in sustaining many of the longer-term. the region's environmental assets. Our rivers, in particular, provide vital corridors for migration of Our strategy sets out a framework for action by many wildlife. But our water environment is also under different organisations and individuals; water pressure in many ways, through the impacts of companies, planning authorities, farmers, environmental abstraction in some locations and from land use, organisations and many others all have a part to play. affecting both the quality and quantity of resources. The secret of success lies in partnership with all those Add to this the potential impacts of climate change and organisations that have responsibility for different it is obvious that there are significant challenges to aspects of water management and with individuals, to achieving sustainable development in the region over gain a better understanding of our use of water and our the next twenty-five years and beyond. expectations of the water environment. We are particularly keen to discuss the issues raised in this This strategy is one of a suite of eight strategies that are strategy and how we take the actions forward to consolidated in a national strategy for England and achieve our vision. Wales, and is part of a broad framework of integrated planning for the sustainable management of water resources. It looks ahead to 2025, and considers the various pressures on water resources and how we might respond to them in a way that is robust to the many risks and uncertainties we face in planning and managing resources. In drawing this strategy together Chris Birks we have recognised the pivotal role that the Thames Regional Director Region may play in sustaining further development of the south-east. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY ■■Mill 0 6 6 9 3 9 Contents Summary 5 Introduction ' 13 1.1 The need for a strategy 13 1.2 Vision and objectives 15 1.3 Consultation 16 1.4 Links w ith other water resources planning initiatives 17 1.5 Structure of the report 18 Frameworks and principles 19 2.1 Institutional and regulatory framework 19 2.1.1 The Environment Agency 19 2.1.2 UK Government and National Assembly for Wales 20 2.1.3 Water companies 20 2.1.4 Ofwat 20 2.1.5 The Drinking Water Inspectorate 20 2.1.6 Planning and local authorities 20 2.2 Competition and economic instruments 21 2.3 Principles underpinning the Agency's approach to water resources planning 21 2.3.1 Sustainable development 21 2.3.2 The "twin-track" approach 22 2.3.3 Robustness to uncertainty and change 22 2.3.4 The precautionary principle 22 State of water resources 23 3.1 The water resource 23 3.1.1 Rivers, groundwater and wetlands 23 3.1.2 Drought 29 3.2 Distributing water 30 3.2.1 Abstractions 30 3.2.2 Leakage 31 3.2.3 Transfers 33 3.3 Uses of abstracted water 34 3.3.1 Household water use 34 3.3.2 Industry 37 3.3.3 Agriculture 37 3.3.4 Power generation 37 3.4 Recreation and other uses of water 38 3.4.1 Navigation 38 3.4.2 Angling 38 3.4.3 Wildlife conservation 39 3.4.4 Other recreation and amenity 40 State of water resources continued 3.5 Water resources and the environment 40 3.5.1 Summer surface water 40 3.5.2 Winter surface water 42 3.5.3 Groundwater 42 3.5.4 Resource availability and water resource strategies 43 Pressures on water resources 44 4.1 Environmental needs 44 4.2 Societal change 49 4.3 Using scenarios 50 4.4 Global warming and climate change 51 4.5 Population and household size 52 4.6 Land use 54 4.7 Water quality and water resources 55 4.7.1 The Water Framework Directive 56 4.8 Rising groundwater in London 56 Quantifying the pressures on water resources 58 5.1 Incremental demand 58 5.2 Developing the scenarios 58 5.2.1 Household demand 58 5.2.2 Leakage 58 5.2.3 Industry and commerce 59 5.2.4 Spray irrigation 59 5.3 Scenario demand in 2010 and 2025 60 5.3.1 Differences in demand 60 5.3.2 Climate change and demand for water 61 5.4 Environmental need 62 5.5 Determining incremental demand 63 5.5.1 Public water supply 63 5.5.2 Direct abstraction use 65 Options and option appraisal 66 6.1 Identification of options 66 6.2 Tools for considering options and strategies 67 6.3 Risk and uncertainty framework 67 6.4 Sustainability appraisal 67 6.5 Costs 68 6.6 Building a strategy 68 Conclusions and proposals 72 7.1 Water resources strategy for Thames Region 72 7.2 Public water supply 73 7.2.1 Enhancing resources 76 7.2.2 Water efficiency and water use minimisation 81 7.2.3 Leakage 82 7.2.4 Metering 84 7.2.5 Summary 85 7.3 Agriculture 85 7.4 Industry and commerce 86 7.4.1 Direct abstraction 86 7.4.2 Power generation 87 7.5 Environment 87 7.6 Navigation 88 7.7 Transfers 88 7.8 Overarching issues 88 7.8.1 Further research and development 89 7.9 Conclusions 89 Actions and the way forward 91 8.1 Overview 91 8.2 Regional actions 91 8.3 Future of this strategy 92 Appendix 1: Climate change 95 Appendix 2: A scenario approach to water demand 99 Appendix 3: Calculating possible leakage levels in 2025 110 Appendix 4: Appraisal of generic water resource management options 113 Appendix 5: Further research and development 115 Bibliography 116 Glossary of terms 118 Maps are reproduced from the OS map by the Environment Agency with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings: Licence Number GD 031 77G. Photographs copyright Environment Agency. Summary i ........i _____________________ ________________ :________________ . Introduction Water is essential for natural life and for human use. We use it in our homes and gardens, in commerce and industry, and in agriculture. The way that we use water has a direct impact on the natural environment. This means that it is essential that there is a secure framework for the management of water that protects the long-term future of the water environment while encouraging sustainable development. The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a 5000 Ml/d, approximately 86% of which is used for duty to secure the proper use of water resources in public water supplies. England and Wales. In accordance with this duty, we have prepared this strategy for managing water • The supply - demand balance in London stands in resources in the Agency's Thames Region. The region deficit at present by some 180 M l/d. Resolving ranges from the hills of the Cotswolds, Chilterns, problems of rising groundwater under central Berkshire Downs, North Downs and the Weald, to the London could provide a resource of only 30-50 Ml/d intervening clay vales and the highly urbanised Thames but other schemes could bridge the gap. Valley and Greater London. Supporting a population of 12 million people - 25% of the population of England • Reported leakage accounted for 26% of public water and Wales in 8% of the area, almost three times the supply demand, approximately 1000 Ml/d, in national average population density - imposes 1998/9. significant pressures on the region's limited resources. • Without any further action to manage demand and This strategy forms part of a suite of eight strategies reduce leakage, new strategic water resources will be that are consolidated in the Agency's national strategy required, under some scenarios, by 2015 for the for England and Wales.
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