DOCSLIB.ORG

The Chief Inspector's Report for Drinking Water in England

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Chief Inspector's Report for Drinking Water in England Drinking water 2020 The Chief Inspector’s report for drinking water in England www.dwi.gov.uk Published by Drinking Water Inspectorate Nobel House 17 Smith Square London SW1P 3JR Tel: 0300 068 6400 Website: www.dwi.gov.uk © Crown Copyright 2021 ISBN 978-1-911087-33-5 Copyright in the typographical arrangement and design rests with the Crown. This publication (excluding the logo) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright with the title and source of the publication specified. Drinking water 2020 The Chief Inspector’s report for drinking water in England www.dwi.gov.uk Drinking water 2020 The Chief Inspector’s report for drinking water in England Contents Executive Summary 5 Drinking water 2020 11 The Chief Inspector’s report for England 11 Drinking water quality testing 14 Influence of CoViD-19 on Water Industry Performance 17 Regulation 7 and Zonal Sampling 19 Analysis of Sampling Response 19 E. coli analysis 22 Conclusions 28 Compliance with Standards 30 Compliance Risk Index 30 Learning from compliance failures 33 Microbiological parameters 34 Chemical and physical parameters 44 Isles of Scilly Water 60 Events 63 Regulation 31 and Supervision of Contractors 67 Hardham Treatment Works (SRN) 67 Rill Chillerton Service Reservoir (SRN) 68 Testwood UV Blockage (SRN) 69 Taste and Odour (SVT) 71 Misconnection (SES) 72 Do Not Drink Advice (WSX) 73 1 Drinking water 2020 The Chief Inspector’s report for drinking water in England Discolouration Events 76 Ingleby Barwick (NES) 80 Manchester (UUT) 80 Rownhams (SRN) 81 Tees Cross Valve (NES) 81 Media Interest in Sussex and Kent (SEW) 82 Loss of Supply (TMS) 83 Cryptosporidium Detections at Surface Water Treatment Works 84 Littlehempston Cryptosporidium, Devon (SWB) 84 Eccup Cryptosporidium, West Yorkshire (YKS) 86 Ashford Common Cryptosporidium, London (TMS) 87 E. coli Detections at Surface Water Treatment Works 89 Whittle Dene E. coli detection, Tyneside (NES) 89 Frankley E. coli detection, Birmingham (SVT) 92 Burst Main (TMS) 93 Cautions and Prosecutions 95 Acceptability, Consumer Contacts and Discolouration Review 96 Discolouration Review 99 Materials in Contact with Drinking Water 104 Audits 106 Quarter 1 – Enforcement Notices 106 Quarter 2 – Disinfection 107 Quarter 3 – Service Reservoirs 108 Quarter 3 – Supply Zones 108 Quarter 4 – Groundwater works 109 2 Drinking water 2020 The Chief Inspector’s report for drinking water in England Enforcement 111 New Legal Instruments Issued 111 Completion Reports 113 Change Applications 115 Milestones 115 Radioactivity Notices 117 Monitoring Variations 117 Regulation 15 Applications 118 Recommendations 119 Transformation Programmes 124 Severn Trent Water 125 United Utilities 127 Southern Water 130 Thames Water 132 Northumbrian, Essex and Suffolk Water 134 South West and Bournemouth Water 137 National Risk Assessment 138 Risk Assessment Risk Index 139 Industry top hazards 142 Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (Water) – RAPID 144 Annex 1 146 3 Drinking water 2020 The Chief Inspector’s report for drinking water in England 4 Drinking water 2020 The Chief Inspector’s report for drinking water in England Executive Summary Drinking water 2020 is the 31st published by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). This report covers public water supplies in England. The provision of safe and clean water direct to the taps of 99% of all homes in England remains vital to health and wellbeing. This was none so more the case than in 2020 when on 23 March the Prime Minister asked people to stay at home. This resulted in a steep rise in demand for water to around 30% above base usage by late May in 2020, equivalent to peak levels seen during the hot summer of July 2018. Whilst this was an obvious outcome as people stayed at home and used water more for personal hygiene, less obvious was the effect on the direct customer interfacing operations of companies such as entry into homes for sampling, events resulting from complications due to restrictions and the added combination of hot weather with usage. This report describes instances where all these were impacted together with the strategies to enable the collection, analysis, inspection and delivery by companies and the Inspectorate to demonstrate confidence in the water supply of England. During 2020 water was abstracted, treated, sampled, analysed and delivered to a high standard by staff who had to work through the pandemic without interruption and unseen. All those involved should rightly be commended on this. Faced with government social distancing restrictions impacting the ability to collect drinking water samples in consumers’ homes, companies initiated innovative approaches to maintain sampling. This included but was not limited to contacting thousands of commercial businesses and company staff to be sample points. This was carried out within a regulatory framework outlined within information letters and notices providing guidance upon which companies based their response. During April to August, at the start of the pandemic the majority of zonal samples were collected upstream of customer properties before recovery began from September when the majority of samples were taken at zonal taps as sample points became available. Maintaining confidence in our water supply is through robust regulation. Companies are required to take a standard number of samples. Statistical analysis between the required regulatory number of samples (2019 dataset) and the number actually taken in 2020 for E. coli (as a primary indicator for 5 Drinking water 2020 The Chief Inspector’s report for drinking water in England the absence of faecal contamination) showed no significant difference with 95% certainty. As such, the industry should be commended on their performance in assuring the quality of the water supply at a most challenging time. The Compliance Risk Index is a performance measure designed to illustrate the risk arising from failures to meet drinking water standards for the parameters specified within the regulations throughout the supply system from source to tap. Since the measure relies solely on the contribution of each failure rather than the overall number of samples, any fluctuation in sample numbers and where they are taken does not affect the measure. This conclusion could not similarly be made for Mean Zonal Compliance (MZC) during the pandemic which would rely on the average value from zonal samples. The CRI for England was 2.64 demonstrating continuing improvement since 2016 when it was developed for use alongside MZC as a measure beyond the ability of MZC to drive measurable improvement. From 2020 it is now the primary measure as companies have an individual outcome CRI of 2 as a common performance commitment agreed with the economic regulator, Ofwat. This value was based upon an estimated median that companies should reasonably achieve by 2020. The median in England for 2020 was 1.61 and so over half of companies are now achieving this demonstrating the high quality of water. Considering company performance, there was significant improvement by Cambridge Water, South Staffs Water and Yorkshire Water. But highly noteworthy is the year on year improvement by Severn Trent Water demonstrating strategic commitment to drinking water quality. Whilst the CRI for Southern Water improved in the last year, the company failed to improve sufficiently for their score to fall below the industry CRI of 2.70. There was also a deterioration in the CRI score for Northumbrian Water noteworthy with the highest individual score. In 2020, the Isles of Scilly (ISC) became part of South West and Bournemouth Water’s supply area, bringing the islands within the responsibility of a licensed water undertaker under the Water Industry Act 1991 for the first time. During this initial period of evaluation and mitigation, results from the Isles of Scilly have been excluded when calculating the company CRI score. When considering specific aspects of sample location, such as those taken at commercial premises and companies own sites as a result of the pandemic, there were particular outcomes of note. Taste and Odour and Iron were among the largest contributors to the CRI scores. Taste and odours are commonly due to consumer plumbing, but the alternative sampling strategy during the year resulted in a 17% reduction in the number of compliance breaches. Nonetheless, at Anglian Water there were 11 taste and odour breaches due to black alkathene supply pipes. One of these failures occurred at Anglian Water’s own offices. Companies should set the standard at their own sites. 6 Drinking water 2020 The Chief Inspector’s report for drinking water in England Whilst the number of lead failures reduced, again due to a reduction in sampling at houses, Bristol Water whose policy of sampling from outside taps predominantly at churches meant that whilst they maintained a zonal sampling programme it also resulted in a 500% increase in the lead failure detections during 2020. This serves as a reminder of the prevalence of lead in older buildings not identified during routine monitoring but highlighted by the change in sampling strategy of Bristol Water. In a further example of not setting standards by example, Thames Water discovered a lead communication pipe on one of their own sites. Similar to lead, iron also had reduced numbers of failures in 2020, but with some unexpected results. Wessex Water recorded an iron failure at their own offices. The location of the samples was from an industrial estate and these failures represent some of the first evidenced outcomes from a significant reduction in water usage in industrial areas, as workers were either furloughed or began to work from home in response to CoViD-19. Many samples were collected from service reservoirs due to restrictions whereupon iron sediment was found within the sample lines as well as sediment accumulating on the reservoir floors.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Water Efficiency and the Water Companies a 2010 UK Review Contents
    Water Efficiency and the Water Companies a 2010 UK Review Contents 01 Foreword 02 Supportive Quotes from Ministers, Water UK and Regulators 05 Part 1: Introduction and overview of water efficiency initiatives 06 Introduction 08 1.1 Direct activities of water companies to engage with all sectors 08 Engaging through online activities 08 Communicating to domestic customers 09 Working closely with non-domestic customers 09 Providing a range of water-efficient products 10 Promoting water efficiency outdoors 10 Communicating with schools and other groups 11 Working with the public sector – schools, hospitals and local councils etc 12 1.2 Working in partnership to deliver joint water efficiency campaigns 12 Waterwise 13 Waterwise East 13 Tap into Savings 14 Waterwise and Energy Saving Trust’s Regional Environmental Networks for Energy and Water (RENEW) project 14 Joint communications campaigns 15 The Water School website 15 South East Communications Group (formerly South-East Drought Communications Group) 16 1.3 Networks to learn and share information on water efficiency 16 Water Saving Group 16 Saving Water in Scotland 17 National Water Conservation Group 17 Water Efficiency Network 17 Watersave Network 18 1.4 Evidence Base for Large-Scale Water Efficiency in Homes 20 Water company areas 21 Part 2: Water company water efficiency highlights and case studies 22 Introduction 23 Anglian Water 23 Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water 24 Bristol Water 24 Cambridge Water 25 Dee Valley Water 25 Essex and Suffolk Water 26 Northern Ireland Water 26 Northumbrian
    [Show full text]
  • Free Reservoir Walks
    F R E E re S er VOI R WALKS RESERVOIR WALKS TO BLOW AWAY THE COBWEBS BROUGht TO YOU by ONly AVAIlable IN YORKSHIRE. WE LOOK AFTER 72,000 ACRES OF LAND IN YORKSHIRE, SPANNING THE NORTH YORK MOORS, THE WOLDS, AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY AND SOME OF THE BEST NATIONAL PARKS IN THE COUNTRY. AND ALL THIS IS FREE FOR YOU TO ENJOY. Here’s a TASTER OF SOME OF OUR FREE RESERVOIR WALKS... VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE WALKS YORKSHIREWATER.COM/RECREATION OUR walk DIFFICUlty ratINGS In this pack you’ll find directions to the site, a summary of the walk, a list of facilities available, a detailed route map and route instructions. These walks are easy to complete and do not require special footwear. Most of the walks are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. These walks are mainly flat and on surfaced paths, however they can become muddy in wet weather. These walks include rough terrain and steeper gradients, making them unsuitable for young children and the infirm. These walks are for the experienced rambler, are at high altitudes and require good compass reading skills. Walking boots, food and drink and appropriate clothing and waterproofs are essential. Podcasts are available for walks featuring this symbol, just visit the recreation section on the Yorkshire Water website and click on the podcast link. Visit the easy access page for a choice of more walks, all of which are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Great care has been taken to ensure that the information in our activity packs (or other information made available) is accurate.
    [Show full text]
  • South West River Basin District Flood Risk Management Plan 2015 to 2021 Habitats Regulation Assessment
    South West river basin district Flood Risk Management Plan 2015 to 2021 Habitats Regulation Assessment March 2016 Executive summary The Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) for the South West River Basin District (RBD) provides an overview of the range of flood risks from different sources across the 9 catchments of the RBD. The RBD catchments are defined in the River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) and based on the natural configuration of bodies of water (rivers, estuaries, lakes etc.). The FRMP provides a range of objectives and programmes of measures identified to address risks from all flood sources. These are drawn from the many risk management authority plans already in place but also include a range of further strategic developments for the FRMP ‘cycle’ period of 2015 to 2021. The total numbers of measures for the South West RBD FRMP are reported under the following types of flood management action: Types of flood management measures % of RBD measures Prevention – e.g. land use policy, relocating people at risk etc. 21 % Protection – e.g. various forms of asset or property-based protection 54% Preparedness – e.g. awareness raising, forecasting and warnings 21% Recovery and review – e.g. the ‘after care’ from flood events 1% Other – any actions not able to be categorised yet 3% The purpose of the HRA is to report on the likely effects of the FRMP on the network of sites that are internationally designated for nature conservation (European sites), and the HRA has been carried out at the level of detail of the plan. Many measures do not have any expected physical effects on the ground, and have been screened out of consideration including most of the measures under the categories of Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery and Review.
    [Show full text]
  • Recreation 2020-21
    Conservation access and recreation 2020-21 wessexwater.co.uk Contents About Wessex Water 1 Our commitment 2 Our duties 2 Our land 3 Delivering our duties 3 Conservation land management 4 A catchment-based approach 10 Engineering and sustainable delivery 12 Eel improvements 13 Invasive non-native species 14 Access and recreation 15 Fishing 17 Partners Programme 18 Water Force 21 Photo: Henley Spiers Henley Photo: Beaver dam – see 'Nature’s engineers' page 7 About Wessex Water Wessex Water is one of 10 regional water and sewerage companies in England and About 80% of the water we supply comes from groundwater sources in Wiltshire Wales. We provide sewerage services to an area of the south west of England that and Dorset. The remaining 20% comes from surface water reservoirs which are includes Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, most of Wiltshire, and parts of Gloucestershire, filled by rainfall and runoff from the catchment. We work in partnership with Hampshire and Devon. Within our region, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water and organisations and individuals across our region to protect and restore the water Cholderton and District Water Company also supply customers with water. environment as a part of the catchment based approach (CaBA). We work with all the catchment partnerships in the region and host two catchment partnerships, Bristol What area does Wessex Water cover? Avon and Poole Harbour, and co-host the Stour catchment initiative with the Dorset Wildlife Trust. our region our catchments Stroud 8 Cotswold South Gloucestershire Bristol Wessex
    [Show full text]
  • York Association Newsletter
    DATES FOR YOUR DIARY York Association MARCH Newsletter 10 Short Walk: Heslington 20 Social Evening and Quiz 25 Drop-in-lunch, Walmgate Ale House from 12 noon 28 AGM and lunch at the York Hilton from 10.30am APRIL 16 Short Walk: Strensall 28 Oldest Sweetshop event, St Edward’s, Dringhouses 2.30pm 29 Drop-in lunch, Walmgate Ale House & Bistro from 12 noon MAY 5 Short Walk: Skipwith Common 7-15 Holiday: Prague 16 Full-day walk: Gargrave 27 Drop-in lunch, Walmgate Ale House & Bistro from 12 noon JUNE 13 Full-Day walk: Hackfall Woods from Masham 23 Short Walk: Roman Road from Copmanthorpe 24 Drop-in lunch, Walmgate Ale House & Bistro from 12 noon An Association of National rusT t Members and Supporters Please send contributions and photographs for the June Newsletter to Catherine Brophy [email protected] by Wednesday 6th May Please save contributions in WORD format. Thank you. March Number 192 Printed by Print Solutions, Audax Close, Clifton Moor, York, YO30 4RA. (01904 690090) Contents Holiday Reviews Page A WINTER TRIP TO THE LAKE DISTRICT What’s On 3 Membership 4 On 5th Talks 4 December a group of YANT members set out for an overnight visit to AGM and Website Information 5 the Lake District. On the way we stopped for coffee at Mainsgill Farm, East Note from the Chair 6 Layton and some of us enjoyed the wonderful cakes and scones with our Social and Fundraising Events 7 coffee, and looking at the Christmas decorations to be bought. We also saw Holidays 8 the Camels, Llamas and Pigs which are kept in the surrounding fields.
    [Show full text]
  • Bolton Abbey Station Road
    WALKERS ARE WELCOME Embsay Railway Station To Leaving Embsay Station turn right along the main Follow the path across a farm track and through 3 Bolton Abbey Station road. At the junction turn right into Shires Lane stiles until the buildings of Calm Slate Farm can be passing the Sports Grounds on your right. At the seen. Aim for the farm buildings and pass through next junction turn left on to Low Lane, and after a a metal gate with a yellow band on the top. Turn With return on the Embsay few yards take the Footpath on the right to Eastby. right and go round the farm buildings passing an and Bolton Abbey office for Yorkshire Ice Cream on your right. (There Steam Railway Follow the wall on your right to the end then turn is an ice cream parlour/restaurant and children’s left on to a farm track. Go through the farm gate play area where refreshments can be purchased). going straight ahead, and then right between the Continue along the track in front of the farmhouse buildings. Before the second silo climb the steps on until you reach a track just after the cattle grid. your left, and carefully make your way across the tyres surrounding the silage clamp to a stile. Cross Bear right to the junction where you turn left on to he walk takes you to Bolton Abbey Station this stile going straight ahead to a second stile a gated road. You stay on this road until you reach where you can then take the train back to where the path takes you alongside the allotments.
    [Show full text]
  • Black's Guide to Devonshire
    $PI|c>y » ^ EXETt R : STOI Lundrvl.^ I y. fCamelford x Ho Town 24j Tfe<n i/ lisbeard-- 9 5 =553 v 'Suuiland,ntjuUffl " < t,,, w;, #j A~ 15 g -- - •$3*^:y&« . Pui l,i<fkl-W>«? uoi- "'"/;< errtland I . V. ',,, {BabburomheBay 109 f ^Torquaylll • 4 TorBa,, x L > \ * Vj I N DEX MAP TO ACCOMPANY BLACKS GriDE T'i c Q V\ kk&et, ii £FC Sote . 77f/? numbers after the names refer to the page in GuidcBook where die- description is to be found.. Hack Edinburgh. BEQUEST OF REV. CANON SCADDING. D. D. TORONTO. 1901. BLACK'S GUIDE TO DEVONSHIRE. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of Toronto http://www.archive.org/details/blacksguidetodevOOedin *&,* BLACK'S GUIDE TO DEVONSHIRE TENTH EDITION miti) fffaps an* Hlustrations ^ . P, EDINBURGH ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK 1879 CLUE INDEX TO THE CHIEF PLACES IN DEVONSHIRE. For General Index see Page 285. Axniinster, 160. Hfracombe, 152. Babbicombe, 109. Kent Hole, 113. Barnstaple, 209. Kingswear, 119. Berry Pomeroy, 269. Lydford, 226. Bideford, 147. Lynmouth, 155. Bridge-water, 277. Lynton, 156. Brixham, 115. Moreton Hampstead, 250. Buckfastleigh, 263. Xewton Abbot, 270. Bude Haven, 223. Okehampton, 203. Budleigh-Salterton, 170. Paignton, 114. Chudleigh, 268. Plymouth, 121. Cock's Tor, 248. Plympton, 143. Dartmoor, 242. Saltash, 142. Dartmouth, 117. Sidmouth, 99. Dart River, 116. Tamar, River, 273. ' Dawlish, 106. Taunton, 277. Devonport, 133. Tavistock, 230. Eddystone Lighthouse, 138. Tavy, 238. Exe, The, 190. Teignmouth, 107. Exeter, 173. Tiverton, 195. Exmoor Forest, 159. Torquay, 111. Exmouth, 101. Totnes, 260. Harewood House, 233. Ugbrooke, 10P.
    [Show full text]
  • TAUWI Response to Ofcom Consultation
    TELECOMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION OF THE UK WATER INDUSTRY - TAUWI - RESPONSE TO OFCOM’S CONSULTATION On Spectrum Management Strategy Ofcom’s approach to and priorities for spectrum management over the next ten years INTRODUCTION This response is provided by the Telecommunications Association of the UK Water Industry (TAUWI) on behalf of its members: Anglian Water Services Ltd Severn Trent Water Ltd Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board South East Water Ltd Sembcorp Bournemouth Water South Staffordshire Water Bristol Water plc South West Water Services Ltd Cambridge Water plc Southern Water plc Dee Valley Water plc States of Jersey Transport and Technical Natural Resources Wales Services Department Environment Agency Sutton & East Surrey Water plc Essex & Suffolk Water Thames Water Utilities Ltd Hartlepool Water United Utilities Water plc Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board Veolia Water Central Welsh Water Veolia Water East Ltd Northern Ireland Water Ltd Veolia Water South East Ltd Northumbrian Water Ltd Wessex Water Services Ltd Scottish Water Yorkshire Water Services Ltd Atkins Ltd act as the main point of contact for TAUWI members and represent their interests on a range of matters, including responding to strategic consultation documents on their behalf. This response has been circulated for review to each of the 29 member organisations that form TAUWI and therefore negates the need for submissions from individual water companies. The Association was formed in April 2004 and replaces the Telecommunications Advisory Committee (TAC) which for the previous 14 years had acted as the focus for the UK Water Industry in relation to fixed and mobile communications and scanning telemetry from a technical and regulatory aspect.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Knight Frank Local View West Country, 2014'
    local View THE WEST COUNTRY • 2014 WELCOME TO LOCAL VIEW WHERE DO OUR BUYERS COME FROM? MEET THE TEAM William Morrison Welcome to the latest edition of Local View, our seasonal update on the property markets that matter T +44 1392 848823 to you. Along with a brief review of activity in the West Country, we have also included a preview of [email protected] Specialism: Prime country houses just some of the beautiful properties we currently have available. Please contact your local team for and farms and estates more information and to find out what other opportunities we can offer. Years at Knight Frank: 15 Richard Speedy As we enter 2014 we are already seeing signs that the market T +44 1392 848842 will continue apace this year and certainly we think it is the year “In 2014 we predict that the market will take off very early in [email protected] for buyers and sellers to get on with things. Without wishing January with a good full 12 months ahead of us for selling.” Specialism: Waterfront and country the year away, 2015 will be a General Election year and the 26% 47% 27% property throughout South Devon Will Morrison market notoriously goes quiet before that event. Our best London and Local Area Rest of the UK International and Cornwall Office Head advice is to take full advantage of the better market 2014 will Years at Knight Frank: 10 be. Whilst we are likely to see an increase of property coming Christopher Bailey to the market in the next 6-12 months, there will be SALES BY PRICE BAND T +44 1392 848822 a significant increase in activity from buyers as well.
    [Show full text]
  • Cc100712cba Severe Weather Event 7Th July 2012
    Devon County Council HTM/12/42 Report on Severe Weather Event 7 th July 2012 Synopsis On Friday 6 th July at 18:30 a RED warning was issued for the risk of severe disruption to Devon and Cornwall on Saturday 7 th July due to surface water and river flooding. This was an update to previous yellow and amber warnings issued earlier in the day. In the event, 45 to 90mm fell in parts of South Devon and 45-120mm fell in parts of East Devon according to the Environment Agency. Two severe flood warnings were issued for the River Yealm and the River Axe and a further 27 other flood warnings were issued, predominantly in South, Mid and East Devon. Current reports are suggesting that over 140 properties were affected by the flooding in Devon, but similar previous events suggest that this number will rise in time. Weather Radar 03:05 7 th July 2012 (courtesy of Meteogroup) Over 272 incidents were logged over the weekend the majority being on the Saturday morning after the main rainfall overnight on Friday. The Strategic Co-ordinating Group (Emergency services, local authorities, EA and Met Office) mobilised on Friday evening and Police Silver Control was active during Saturday to co-ordinate the multi-agency response. Further warnings are in place for potential further rain impacts on Wednesday to Friday, and these warnings are being carefully monitored – see overleaf. -1- Devon County Council DCC’s Flood Risk Management, Highways and Emergency Planning Teams are working closely with the District Councils and the Environment Agency to coordinate a full response.
    [Show full text]
  • A Summary of Climate Change Risks for the East of England
    A Summary of Climate Change Risks for the East of England To coincide with the publication of the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) 2012 !"#$%&'()*+(,%-&(,./"%.0 ! Front cover - Essex and Suffolk Water have begun construction of the ‘Abberton Reservoir Enhancement’ to enlarge the capacity of the company’s existing reservoir. This resource is required to provide Essex with the amount of water needed to ensure a continued future supply to customers over the next 25 years. 1 - Office for National Statistics, 2009. National statistics regional trends. 2 - Office for National Statistics, 2009. National statistics regional trends. 3 - East of England Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS) – Environment Agency 4 - East of England Regional Assembly Regional Flood Risk Appraisal March 2009. 5 - UK CCRA 2012 "# !"#$%&'()*+(,%-&(,./"%.0 Introduction The East of England is the second largest English Region These transfers are crucial to the maintenance of public and covers 15% of the total area of England. water supplies and also provide support for agriculture It contains the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and the water environment, especially during drought Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and the unitary periods. authorities of Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough, Water resource management is particularly important Luton, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. considering the high levels of planned growth and a The major cities and towns in the region include Norwich, particularly extensive area of important wetland and Cambridge, Peterborough, Stevenage, Ipswich, Colchester, other water dependant habitats. Water resources are also Southend-on-Sea and Luton. These urban centres are under pressure from industries such as agriculture, with complemented by extensive rural areas.
    [Show full text]
  • South Devon Estuaries Environmental Management Plan 2018 – 2024
    South Devon Estuaries Environmental Management Plan 2018 – 2024 Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty www.southdevonaonb.org.uk 1 South Devon Estuaries Key facts The AONB contains the five estuaries of the Yealm, Erme, Avon, Salcombe-Kingsbridge and Dart. The far west is bordered by Plymouth Sound. They are a defining feature of the South Devon AONB. All are ria-type estuaries, drowned river valleys, formed by the eroding action of rivers carving through the surface geology and flooding to their present geography towards the end of the last Ice Age. The Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary is a classic dendritic-ria with its many finger-like ria-formed creeks. All of our estuaries are unique in their own ways and range from the highly freshwater dominated Dart estuary to the highly seawater dominated Salcombe- Kingsbridge estuary – some describing it as a tidal marine inlet. Being ria-formed, they tend to be deep watered and have become important and popular ports and water-based recreation designations; they range from the small privately owned Erme estuary that does fully drain at low tide to the more cosmopolitan Dart estuary that attracts some of the world’s largest cruise liners. All of our estuaries still retain large areas of relatively unspoilt and undeveloped bed, foreshore and shoreline but with their considerable history of human use and harvesting, none can be described as being completely natural or unspoilt. However, they supply considerable ‘ecosystem services’ to the local natural beauty and communities and several are formally designated and protected in recognition of their rich and diverse natural history.
    [Show full text]