Latest News
News and updates from Envireau Water.
20th February - a day of drought discussions
DEFRA held a drought summit yesterday in London chaired by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman. Invited were water companies, farmers and wildlife groups to discuss the situation in south-east England, East Anglia and the East Midlands.
It was reported to Envireau Water immediately after the meeting that the overall tone of the meeting was positive and constructive with the farming sector, water companies and the Agency all working together well to minimise impacts.
Water Companies are most worried about the potential of a knock on of severe shortages going into the 2013 season and are adopting a ‘ no regret’s’ policy – this means they are applying for restrictions, drought orders and permits now to minimise and avoid if possible, the risk of draconian measures for the summer of 2013. Public water supply has a statutory duty to supply and therefore has priority over other abstractors such as agriculture for the supply that is available. This is a major concern to the farming community who currently have no 'emergency powers' available to them.
Farmers are already making significant business risk (financial loss) decisions to reduce planting for this year as an adaptive measure to water resources stress. The UKIA argued that food security is as important as energy or water security, and should be allocated on an equal basis.
The Agency said they were developing a flexible approach that would enable abstractors to take water throughout the year when flow conditions were acceptable. This is good news for surface water abstractors but further consideration needs to be given as to how this may translate to groundwater abstractors.
Finally there was a discussion about setting up a 'National Drought Management Team' that would bring together all the interested parties to collaborate on water issues in a regular structured manner rather than relying on drought summits to air views and make recommendations. This seems to be a very sensible step as there is no forum at present at which all parties are represented in discussions.
A further more focussed ministerial meeting is to be held in April, to further discuss the issues raised as we enter the summer season.
While the Drought Summit was taking place in London, Envireau Water was talking local scale drought strategy at a meeting with the Environment Agency in Brampton, Huntingdon. Section 57 restrictions on groundwater, as well as surface water abstractions this summer, are a real possibility from June onwards and Envireau Water wanted to be clear on how the Agency is assessing the severity of the situation, how decisions are being made internally and how usage of Section 57 on groundwater licences might actually affect the drought situation in reality.
Earlier in the day early risers would have heard Keith Weatherhead of Cranfield University voicing the farming communities concerns about the drought on Radio 4’s Farming Today program. Keith made some very valuable points about the scale of agricultural water usage (1% of total) compared to other sector water users in the UK as well as the potential for irrigation scarcity to force up the price of UK grown fruit and vegetables, or worst case causing buyers to look abroad for sources of produce.
All in all it was a very drought focussed day across the country!
Envireau Water receives special invitation DEFRA industrial abstractors workshop in Westminster
Monday, 20th Feb. Following a special invitation by Henry Leveson-Gower (Head of Future Water Resource Management Project), Envireau Water's Phil Ham attended DEFRA's industrial abstractors workshop in Westminster on Monday. The workshop is the first in a series of events that DEFRA is holding over the coming months to listen to the views and concerns of independent abstractors with respect to future abstraction licensing reform.
The case for reform is outlined in the recently published Water White Paper. Envireau Water is concerned that current proposals favour increased water supply for industrial sectors from public utility companies. There is a real risk that the rights of existing independent abstractors and the potential for companies to develop new supplies in the future will be significantly undermined.
We will be lobbying Government hard to ensure the rights of independent abstractors are not disproportionately affected by future reforms and issuing guidance to our own clients as plans develop.
EA publishes ‘initial prospects forecast for 2012 spray irrigation’ for Anglian Region…
... and its not looking good.
"The overall initial prospects for water resources availability for spray irrigation in Anglian for summer 2012 are: POOR".
"Water levels are well below average in many rivers and aquifers. This winter is currently the driest on record within Anglian as a whole, covering the five month period up to January. There is still an exceptionally high soil moisture deficit across Anglian from the continuing dry weather. As a result without above average rainfall for the remaining winter and early spring period, significant restrictions on abstraction for spray irrigation from surface water are probable and we may have to restrict abstraction from groundwater. Abstraction from reservoirs will not be affected.".
Prospects across Eastern and Central Anglian area's are poor: "If conditions are dry there is likely to be a need for voluntary restrictions with a risk of area wide formal Section 57 restrictions from early June". However, Eastern Area is the worst hit at present; with sub-area status' of 'above normal risk' to 'very high risk' of formal Section 57 restrictions from June.
The full statement can be viewed here.
Close liaison is already taking place between the EA and the Lark Abstractors Group (Central Area) 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, however results of the EA's groundwater modelling have not been released. 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.
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.
‘Serious Damage’ consultation finally released
Consultation on "The Water Act 2003: withdrawal of compensation on the grounds of Serious Damage" was due to be published in May 2011 but it has finally been released today.
This consultation is on the principles to be used in determining whether a water abstraction may cause serious damage and therefore whether or not compensation will be due to the abstractor upon revokation of the permission by the Environment Agency.
The definition of 'serious damage' is critical to abstractors in this case as it will determine whether compensation will be paid or not.
Envireau Water will be reviewing the consultation and will submit a response to DEFRA. We will report on our views on the consultation here.
The consultation details are available here and the deadline for responses to DEFRA is May 3 2012.
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.