Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | FEBRUARY 2022 | 25 Water Northumbrian Water Last year not only saw the first round of funding from Ofwat's innova- tion competition, it was also the return of Northumbrian's Inno- vation Festival a•er a fallow year to get creative minds flowing. Heidi Mottram, chief executive of Northumbrian Water, calls for clarity from government ahead of PR24 and what will shape the coming decades for the sector and the waterways of the country. Mottram says she wants to continue to improve on the work done in 2021 around supporting customers, communities and employees. "We want to drive forward the work we're doing around climate change and achieving net zero. Events like Storm Arwen, which really tested our water sup- ply system, bring home the need for resil- ience to be built into all infrastructure. "As we begin the work for PR24, it's important that the government sets out really clearly what it wants from the indus- try and what it thinks is important to move forward against environmental perfor- mance and resilience targets. This should be built into the regulatory framework for not just five years, but for the next 25 years. "Northumbrian Water Group is work- ing hard to deliver the highest standard of service and we've done some really great things for our customers in 2021, which we'll continue in 2022. Providing we get the right regulatory framework to attract investment into the industry then we can continue to build for a sustainable future." Pennon Group Susan Davy, whose first big move in 2021 was overseeing Pennon Group's acquisition of Bristol, wants the focus for the next 12 months to be about demonstrating environ- mental leadership. She says: "For the first time ever, our analysis shows that 100% of our region's beaches will have passed the stringent bath- ing water standards. We achieved significant improvements to bathing waters by invest- ing in our sewer network and treatment works alongside partnerships which deliver nature-based solutions which restore, pro- tect and enhance land and thereby prevent run-off of pollutants into rivers. Building on our track record of developing solutions to improve bathing beaches in the South West we will reduce our impact on river quality by one third by 2025. "We face the challenges of climate change, and our customers' expectations of how we protect the environment in our region are higher than ever. We recognise the role we have to play in reducing emis- sions, targeted at slowing climate change and we are on track with our commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 as outlined in our climate adaption report, launched in December 2021. "Climate change has multiple impacts on our operations and in 2022 work will continue on our long-term plans for water resources for our region and our drainage and water management plans to mitigate these risks. "However, making long-term and sus- tainable improvements is only possible through all parties working together. We are continuing with our Upstream Thinking catchment management programme, which has set the standard for innovation and incentivisation of good water quality out- comes. We are active in 80% of our region and working with around 1,700 farms, have restored c.91,000 hectares to date, and have plans to do more. "As a purpose-led business we think dif- ferently about the relationship we have with our customers through our innovative and pioneering WaterShare+ scheme. With 1 in 16 households in the region now sharehold- ers we are planning a second WaterShare+ share option in 2022. "Communities rightly care about their local environment and we must build on this passion to bring together relevant stakehold- ers to collectively deliver tangible action on climate change to protect our planet and enhance the places people love, for genera- tions to come." service", as well progressing landmark pro- ject the Havant Thicket Reservoir. "As the first new reservoir to the built in the UK for decades, it will provide a sustain- able source of water for the South East, as well as protecting some of Hampshire's world-renowned chalk streams, the River Test and the River Itchen," Taylor adds. "The reservoir will also bring a whole range of environmental and community benefits to the area, including a new visi- tor centre, wetland and green leisure facil- ity. Final permission was granted in October 2021, with work starting on site straight away. He explains that climate change, a grow- ing population and the need to protect rare habitats and sensitive rivers, are just some of the challenges facing the company. "We need to find new, sustainable ways of supplying our area with water in order to reduce abstraction from chalk streams in Hampshire. "We also need to maintain the support of our customers and stakeholders as we pro- gress with Havant Thicket Reservoir. Ensur- ing they are consulted and engaged as plans develop in 2022 will be vital to the success of the project. "Havant Thicket Reservoir will help to increase our resilience in the face of climate change and a growing population. Funda- mentally an environmentally led project, current plans involve filling the reservoir with water from the Bedhampton springs, which would otherwise flow straight out to sea. "This will create a new, sustainable source of water for our area, allowing us to share more water with neighbouring South- ern Water. This in turn will mean Southern Water can reduce its abstraction from world- renowned chalk streams in Hampshire – the River Test and the River Itchen. "In order to ensure the reservoir is a success, we will continue to work closely with local stakeholders, customers and residents. We will be holding regular stake- holder group meetings and will be consult- ing with a range of people and groups as we develop our Water Resources Management Plan. "As part of Havant Thicket Reservoir, we have started to work with local group, Stop the Chop, who initially protested against the project. Together, we have agreed to trans- locate 80 trees from within the reservoir site and replant these locally. We have already identified these trees and will be moving these in 2022."

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