ENVIRONMENT SCRUTINY PANEL 10 July WATER RESOURCE
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ENVIRONMENT SCRUTINY PANEL 10th July WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR SOUTHERN WATER AND PORTSMOUTH WATER Report of the Head of Regeneration & Planning Policy RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the comments set out in paragraphs 33 & 34 form the response to Southern Water’s Water Resource Management Plan and Portsmouth Water’s Water Resource Management Plan. Summary Both Water Resource Management Plans set out in detail how Southern Water and Portsmouth Water propose to ensure that there is sufficient security of water supplies to meet the anticipated demand of all their customers over the 25 year planning period. This report identifies and discusses the main issues for Eastleigh for water supply. It is recommended that the conclusions of this report form the Borough Council’s formal response to both Southern Water and Portsmouth Water. Statutory Powers Water Industry Act 1991, Sections 37A and 37B Water Act 2003, Section 62 Water Resources Management Plan Regulations 2007 Water Resources Management Plan Direction 2007 Water Resources Management Plan (No.2) Direction 2007 Water Resources Management Plan (No.2)( amendment) Direction 2007 The Southern Water Services Limited Water Resource Management Plan Direction 2007 The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 d:\moderngov\data\published\intranet\c00000433\m00003880\ai00019984\waterresourcesmanagementplans0.doc1 Introduction 1. Eastleigh Borough Council has been consulted formally by Southern Water on their Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP). Portsmouth Water has also published its WRMP and although it has not consulted Eastleigh Borough Council formally, the opportunity should be taken to comment. 2. Members have been given copies of Southern Water’s summary WRMP report and the web site address to the full report. A note of the main issues from both WRMPs was distributed and a presentation given at the last Environment Scrutiny Panel on the 12th June 2008. Southern Water Comments 3. The report covers a range of topics and outlines the future impacts for Eastleigh within the South Hampshire Water Resource Zone (WRZ). These issues are extremely important and outline how water resource is a major challenge for the South East of England, which is currently designated as an area of ‘serious water stress’ by DEFRA. 4. Officer Comments: Although the WRMP outlines these challenges it does not set out any strategies for the South Hampshire WRZ up to 2035. Security of supplies 5. Outage assessment is an assessment of failures of supply due to pollution incidents, power and mechanical failures or treatment breakdowns. There is no reference to an ‘outage assessment’ within the Southern Water report. 6. Officer comments: The impacts of an outage assessment should be clearly documented. The WRMP should give assurance that Southern Water has emergency procedures to deal with security issues. New housing 7. The WRMP predicts growth up to 2035 with reference to the Draft South East Plan. 8. Officer Comments: The Draft South East Plan growth statistics should acknowledge the implications of other land uses on water supply, such as industry which can be water intensive. Climate Change 9. The WRMP discusses climate change and considers historic records of droughts over a longer period than previously considered. It is acknowledged that this area has much uncertainty and that the magnitude and frequency of impacts are uncertain. 10. Officer Comment: It would be useful to establish now and in the future what work Southern Water are undertaking on climate change and how this will influence future water supply. d:\moderngov\data\published\intranet\c00000433\m00003880\ai00019984\waterresourcesmanagementplans0.doc2 Energy Use 11. The likely increase in increased carbon emissions through potential water supply projects is highlighted within the WRMP. 12. Officer Comment: There should be clarification as to how Southern Water takes into account energy generation and increased carbon dioxide emissions, when determining whether its projects are economically viable. Impacts of environmental legislation 13. The Habitats Regulations Assessment, a European Directive, is an important power to protect internationally designated sites. The River Itchen is an important chalk river and is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). In the light of the Habitats Regulations Directive the Environment Agency has undertaken a Review of Consents on the River Itchen SAC. In order to maintain and improve water quality they have concluded that abstraction licenses should be reduced by a substantial amount. Southern Water has not taken into account the results of this assessment and other future environmental assessments when writing their WRMP, and have ignored this important potential future loss of water supply. 14. Officer Comment: This is unacceptable and the Council believes that the WRMP should be reassessed to take into account the implications of the Review of Consents. Southern Water seeks to address this through an Inquiry, to bring into the public domain the debate about the costs of infrastructure provision to deal with regional growth requirements as set out in the South East Plan. Providing best value to customers 15. It is not clear what the full financial impacts of this plan will be for customers. 16. Officer Comments: An additional £10 for customers to implement proposed work and research is mentioned. However, how often this charge will be made is unclear; this needs to be clarified. Achieving the right balance between water supply, economic impacts and carbon creation is important. Increasing household metering 17. Southern Water identified universal water metering by 2015 as a fairer charging system as people can directly influence their bills. 18. Officer Comments: The Council wishes to support the principle of universal compulsory metering by 2015. It should be made clear if there will be a charge for the installation of water meters. The WRMP should explicitly state that charges for the installation of meters should be absorbed into overall charges paid by all. d:\moderngov\data\published\intranet\c00000433\m00003880\ai00019984\waterresourcesmanagementplans0.doc3 Reducing leakage 19. The Council recognises the current levels of water leakage are already well below the company’s ‘Economic Level of Leakage’ and the intention of Southern Water to improve on this. 20. Officer Comment: Southern Water should justify that the target to reducing leakage is economically and environmentally balanced. Water efficiency 21. It is noted that Southern Water do undertake and invest in research into water supply and demand issues; and education of the general public. 22. Officer Comments: It should be recognised that mains supply water is not required for all uses. The Council recognises the importance of educating the public about various water efficiency methods for example rainwater storage and grey water usage and feels that Southern Water could improve on this. Southern Water should also be encouraged to work with house builders and developers to integrate grey water recycling etc into their products. Bulk transfer imports and exports 23. The WRMP sets out the fact that current bulk exports will continue and will be re assessed when the current contracts expire. Details of these exports and imports are however not clear. 24. Officer Comments: The bulk exports and imports to and from Southern Water should be clearly outlined in order to establish who is reliant upon, and who Southern Water relies upon for water. There is no recognition within this WRMP of the bulk import from Portsmouth Water. Possible solutions 25. The WRMP concludes that there is no need for any schemes for the South Hampshire WRZ (exception of Isle of Wight) up to 2035 based upon no sustainability reductions. The Review of Consents outcomes would mean a reduction in abstraction of approx 50% of public water supply in the summer. This would mean a review of the WRMP to identify projects such as development of reservoirs, waste water recycling and desalination. These would have substantial environmental and economic costs. Southern Water want this to be dealt with through a public inquiry as discussed in paragraph 14 above. 26. Officer Comments: The Council believes that the WRMP should be reassessed to take into account the implications of the Review of Consents. Portsmouth Water Comments 27. There are clear links to Southern Water’s water supply through bulk export, and this is dealt with in paragraph 23 above. It is important for the Council to d:\moderngov\data\published\intranet\c00000433\m00003880\ai00019984\waterresourcesmanagementplans0.doc4 be kept informed of the position on water supply throughout the South East Region. 28. Portsmouth Water WRMP includes a proposal for a Winter Storage Reservoir in Colden Common. They have also submitted details of this proposed site through the Strategic Land Availability Assessment work we are currently undertaking. It is noted that the proposed reservoir would take water from the River Itchen at high periods of flow. This would, alongside the Southern Water proposals, increase pressures on water within the River Itchen. It would be the responsibility of the Environment Agency to ensure that there are no detrimental impacts to the River Itchen SAC. 29. Officer Comment: It is important for the Council to be kept informed of the position on the potential reservoir proposal at Colden Common. Drainage and Wastewater 30. The WRMPs only address water supply.