WATER COMPANIES URGED TO IMPROVE INFRACSTRUCTURE
AND REDUCE WATER USE TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

National press office - 24-Oct-2008 - Water companies in England and Wales must invest more in maintenance to improve the environment and reduce the risk of pollution incidents, the Environment Agency said today. Last year, water companies were responsible for one fifth of all serious pollution incidents - many of which were caused by poorly maintained, overloaded or ageing sewerage infrastructure.

Responding to the water companies’ draft business plans for 2010-2015, the Environment Agency called on the industry to be clear about its priorities for capital maintenance, taking into account the potential impact on the environment.

The Environment Agency welcomed many of the water companies’ proposals, but urged them to do more to manage their resources and work with customers to reduce demand for water, which could include the introduction of compulsory water metering in areas of high water usage. The Environment Agency will also ensure that water companies plan for secure supplies for people and industry, and adapt to population growth and climate change.

In addition, the water companies will also be pressed to review their draft plans to take account of the increased risk of flooding to their key assets due to climate change. Such infrastructure, including water treatment and sewage works, is often located by rivers and is particularly susceptible to flooding. Many plants were badly affected during the summer 2007 floods, cutting water supplies and sewage services to thousands of homes and businesses.

The Environment Agency is concerned that few companies are proposing action on the issue of flooding from surface water drains - an issue highlighted by the Pitt Review. Surface water flooding (from overflowing drains) was the key cause of the summer 2007 floods and, although water companies have made a start on tackling this important issue, the Environment Agency wants to see more commitment from the industry to help with production and delivery of plans to help reduce surface water flooding. It is also calling on water companies to include firm proposals to reduce the number of properties at risk from sewage flooding.

David King, the Environment Agency’s Director of Water Management, said: "There is a lot to commend in the proposals from the water companies, however we are keen to see more detail on their plans for capital maintenance. We need to be reassured that such investment is in the right areas to protect the environment and will deliver value for money.

"Over the next few months, we will work closely with the water industry, Ofwat, and others to improve their draft documents into final business plans which represent the best solutions for the environment, and which deliver the best value for customers."

The business plans, which have been submitted to Ofwat, set out the industry’s approach to managing water resources, investing in infrastructure and making environmental improvements. The regulator’s Periodic Review process is particularly important in the light of recent floods and droughts and the introduction of new legislation relating to water quality and habitats. Ofwat will make its final decisions on the business plans in November 2009.

Under Ofwat’s Periodic Review, water companies must plan investments in looking after the environment, maintaining and protecting assets against flooding, and securing long-term, sustainable water and sewerage services. Several associated organisations, including the Environment Agency, make formal comments on these plans.

Help at hand for farmers facing up to climate change

National press office - 24-Oct-2008 - Meeting the challenges of climate change will help farmers save money as well as protect people and the environment, according to the Environment Agency.

Unveiling the new-look Best Farming Practices - a revised practical guide bursting with more than 250 tips to help farmers profit by protecting the environment - the Environment Agency’s Director of Environment Protection, Tricia Henton, said: "In England alone more than 1.3 million hectares of farmland lies in the floodplain and the sort of devastating floods we saw last summer can hit farmers hard. Soil nutrient and pesticide losses from run off not only damage the environment but also cost farmers more than £50 million a year.

"But as climate change takes hold, and our weather becomes increasingly volatile, farmers face the prospect of more frequent and severe flooding, less water in summer to irrigate crops, more pests surviving the winter and more heat stress in stock.

"Help, however, is at hand. Best Farming Practices explores how farmers can protect against - and even benefit from - climate change. It shows how good management of crops and soils can guard against chemicals and sediment from farmland polluting our groundwater, rivers and streams as well as how to protect against costly losses of topsoils, seeds, fertiliser and pesticides.

"All these are steps that recent research suggests could reduce a farmer’s annual variable costs by up to 30 per cent, as well as cut pesticide use by between 30-70 per cent and nitrogen use by between a 16-25 per cent.

Overall, the easy-to-read guide covers 13 topic areas, including how to use water wisely and make best use of what is becoming a scarce resource in some parts of the country. Another section explores how to combat the increased risk of flooding. A third examines how you can save energy and reduce waste - an imperative as the prices of fuel and electricity escalate and society struggles to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

As well as offering help with how to apply for Grant Aid, the second edition of Best Farming Practices also includes 15 illustrated case studies that demonstrate how farmers can reap financial and environmental benefits from a wide range of simple, inexpensive actions.

Philip Chamberlain, an arable farmer on a LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) demonstration farm in Oxfordshire, describes how his crops benefit from regular applications of sewage sludge, pig manure and composted green waste - a move which has helped to minimise pollution, improve wildlife habitats and save £60,000 in fertiliser costs.

Kent salad grower Thane Goodrich shares how he has cut crop-establishment costs by over 30 per cent by tackling wind erosion and nutrient leaching via a combination of minimum-tillage cultivation, grass strips around headlands and a cover crop of winter barley.

The experience of Robert and Sarah Helliwell - beef, sheep and poultry farmers with a National Trust tenancy in the Peak District - underlines the benefit of fencing streams and cloughs to prevent livestock access. The fences on their farm help to protect against bank erosion and maintain water quality. But they also prevent stock losses and reduce the vet bills associated with lameness - enough to recover the cost of fencing within four years.

Tricia Henton added: "We’d much rather help farmers to profit from a good environment than see them penalised for bad practice which is why we have revised, expanded and republished Best Farming Practices.

"Whether it’s dairy, arable, horticultural or livestock production, we recognise the tough business environment that farmers are operating in but Best Farming Practices is full of down-to-earth advice which we hope will provide food for thought and inspiration for action."

Best Farming Practices is available free to farmers, growers, land managers and farm business advisers. You can download it from www.environment-agency.gov.uk/bestfarmingpractices . You can also order your own copy by telephoning 08708 506506, please reference code BFP004.

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Water companies urged to improve infrastructure and reduce water use to protect the environment

National press office - 24-Oct-2008 - Water companies in England and Wales must invest more in maintenance to improve the environment and reduce the risk of pollution incidents, the Environment Agency said today. Last year, water companies were responsible for one fifth of all serious pollution incidents - many of which were caused by poorly maintained, overloaded or ageing sewerage infrastructure.

Responding to the water companies’ draft business plans for 2010-2015, the Environment Agency called on the industry to be clear about its priorities for capital maintenance, taking into account the potential impact on the environment.

The Environment Agency welcomed many of the water companies’ proposals, but urged them to do more to manage their resources and work with customers to reduce demand for water, which could include the introduction of compulsory water metering in areas of high water usage. The Environment Agency will also ensure that water companies plan for secure supplies for people and industry, and adapt to population growth and climate change.

In addition, the water companies will also be pressed to review their draft plans to take account of the increased risk of flooding to their key assets due to climate change. Such infrastructure, including water treatment and sewage works, is often located by rivers and is particularly susceptible to flooding. Many plants were badly affected during the summer 2007 floods, cutting water supplies and sewage services to thousands of homes and businesses.

The Environment Agency is concerned that few companies are proposing action on the issue of flooding from surface water drains - an issue highlighted by the Pitt Review. Surface water flooding (from overflowing drains) was the key cause of the summer 2007 floods and, although water companies have made a start on tackling this important issue, the Environment Agency wants to see more commitment from the industry to help with production and delivery of plans to help reduce surface water flooding. It is also calling on water companies to include firm proposals to reduce the number of properties at risk from sewage flooding.

David King, the Environment Agency’s Director of Water Management, said: "There is a lot to commend in the proposals from the water companies, however we are keen to see more detail on their plans for capital maintenance. We need to be reassured that such investment is in the right areas to protect the environment and will deliver value for money.

"Over the next few months, we will work closely with the water industry, Ofwat, and others to improve their draft documents into final business plans which represent the best solutions for the environment, and which deliver the best value for customers."

The business plans, which have been submitted to Ofwat, set out the industry’s approach to managing water resources, investing in infrastructure and making environmental improvements. The regulator’s Periodic Review process is particularly important in the light of recent floods and droughts and the introduction of new legislation relating to water quality and habitats. Ofwat will make its final decisions on the business plans in November 2009.

Under Ofwat’s Periodic Review, water companies must plan investments in looking after the environment, maintaining and protecting assets against flooding, and securing long-term, sustainable water and sewerage services. Several associated organisations, including the Environment Agency, make formal comments on these plans.