Latest News
News and updates from Envireau Water.
Envireau Water reviews feedback from NFU / EA quarterly water liaison meeting
Envireau Water has just reviewed feedback from the NFU quarterly water resources liaison meeting held with EA on the 24th January 2012:
A number of topics were discussed:
Habitats Directive Review of Consents programme - 16 'Section 52' notices have so far been served on abstraction licence holders by EA; all in the Anglian region. Notices are served upon licences which are considered to be having a measurable detrimental impact upon a protected ecological site. 8 licence holders have objected to their notice and their cases are now being evaluated by the Minister. The other 8 have had their licences revoked with no compensation, as the compensation process is only triggered if an objection to the notice is raised.
DEFRA ‘Serious & Significant Damage’ consultation – is now expected to be published in Feb 2012. Transitional arrangements will be made prior to full enforcement coming into force.
Licensing of Trickle Irrigation & Quarry Dewatering – October 2012 remains the anticipated date for implementation. European legislation requires the UK as a member state to have a framework of abstraction control in place by December 2012. Direction has been given by Ministers that the implementation of New Authorisations (bringing trickle irrigation & quarry dewatering into the licensing regime) should be 'light touch' and wherever possible licences granted; however EU Habitat Regulation and Water Framework Directive obligations must not be compromised in doing so.
Envireau Water will review the ‘Serious & Significant Damage’ consultation when released and maintains regular contact with the Environment Agency over the implementation process for Trickle Irrigation & Quarry Dewatering licences. It is good to see that the NFU is also keeping the pressure on the regulator with the view to keeping abstractors informed.
If you have any queries or concerns about how your operation could be affected by implementation of the new regulations please give James or Tamsin a call on 01332 871882 or email us via the Contact Page.
Time running out for 2012 drought respite
Envireau Water has just reviewed the recent NFU drought briefing and the latest Water Situation Report from the Environment Agency:
Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire; parts of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, and west Norfolk remain in drought but the focus of the drought has shifted from river flows to groundwater resources with Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Shropshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, East Sussex and Kent all having low groundwater levels for the time of year. There are currently ten groundwater monitoring sites that are exceptionally low for the time of year. All these areas remain at high risk of drought in Spring / Summer 2012 if above average rainfall is not received over the next 10 - 12 weeks.
Some rainfall was received in all areas during January 2012, but while reducing Soil Moisture Deficits (SMD) even in East Anglia, it has not been enough to significantly reduce drought stress. The SMD at the end of January remained at 52mm in Anglian Region, which is approximately 20mm greater than that seen in 1976. An SMD of 0mm is needed for groundwater recharge to commence.
Reservoir stocks are steadily increasing in southern and central areas of England. South East Water has not yet used the drought order granted for Ardingly reservoir. However, Southern water is negotiating with EA in the pre- application stage of a drought permit for Bewl reservoir which is at 42% of usable capacity. The EA are also in formal pre- application stages with Thames Water for four possible drought permits and Draycote reservoir in Warwickshire is still of concern to Severn Trent Water.
Approximately 80 agricultural abstraction licences are currently affected by restrictions in the Midlands region, 120 licences in the Anglian region and 200 in the South East region. The EA are continuing to work closely with farmers and growers to minimise the impact of any restrictions. In Anglian Region close liaison is taking place between the EA and the Lark Abstractors Group in order to try to agree a voluntary reduction in groundwater licence volume. If the finally agreed reduction is successful it may minimise the risk of formal Section 57 spray irrigation restrictions being imposed in the catchment. This collaboration with the EA at an early stage is a great example of how abstractors and the regulator can work together to weather tough times.
With the Met Office forecasting colder weather with snow at times and rainfall near or below average for much of February it is looking as though not much respite is on the cards this month.
If you are concerned about your water security in 2012 give James or Tamsin a ring on 01332 871882 to discuss how we can help put your case to the Agency in the most effective way, or drop us an email using the Contact Form.
Rising Cost of Water
Water companies are set to increase their domestic and commercial water charges by an average 5.7% across England & Wales. The changes will take effect from April 2012 and are supported by Ofwat, the industry regulator.
However, some regions will be hit much harder than others. Domestic and commercial customers in Southern Region will be hit hardest – with water charges set to rise by 8.2%. The differences in regional price hikes have occurred because different companies have ongoing capital investments that require different levels of funding, such as new large housing developments, or coastal protection, as in the case of Southern.
The rising cost of water is yet another blow to the already cash-strapped businesses reliant on mains water for production of processing. For many small to medium sized enterprises, the possibility of developing a private water supply may now be a very realistic, cost effective option.
If you are concerned how the rising cost of water is affecting you or your business, then contact Envireau Water on 01332 871882 today, to see how we can help save you money on your water bills.
Anglian Region praying for a wet January
The Environment Agency water situation report for December 2011 has just been published and this highlights that although December saw the first significant rainfalls in Anglian region, much more is needed to make a difference to groundwater levels and river flows.
“The majority of the rain that fell in December was absorbed into the soil, and another month of average rainfall is needed before the conditions are suitable for aquifer recharge to begin”.
Soil moisture deficits remain in the Exceptionally High category and groundwater levels are continuing to decline at 11 of the 14 monitoring sited across Central area.
If the ‘long term average’ rainfall is received in January a decline in levels is expected to continue, with the potential of a limited recharge period beginning in February.
If you are worried how the prospects of drought in 2012 could affect you or your business, then call Envireau Water on 01332 871882 to discuss how we can help.
2011 officially the second warmest on record
The Met Office has officially announced that 2011 was the second warmest year on record. Despite the cold temperatures during the 2010 - 11 winter, 2011 included the warmest April and Spring on record - and the second warmest Autumn. The highest single-day temperature for October was also broken, with Gravesend in Kent notching up 29.9 degrees on October 1, beating the previous record of 29.4 set at March in Cambridgeshire in 1985.
The top temperature of the year was 33.1 degrees on 27 June at Gravesend. Britain's hottest-ever mark came in 2003, again in Gravesend, when 38.1 degrees was reached. All of the UK's top seven warmest years have happened in the last decade.
Although Scotland had its wettest year since records began, some parts of England have had very low levels of rainfall. East Anglia had its second driest year on record and the Midlands its third driest – both regions remain at risk of drought going into 2012 and there is likely to be pressure on available water resources.
If you are worried how the prospects of drought in 2012 could affect you or your business, then call Envireau Water on 01332 871882 to discuss how we can help.