WET News

NEWS | Ofwat 'slightly nervous' about Defra strategic policy steer OfWaT WElCOMES the strategic policy steer it is receiving from Defra but is "slightly nervous" about the requirement in the Water Bill to act "in accordance" with that statement, Ofwat chief executive Cathryn Ross has told the Public Bill Committee. Ross (pictured right) told the committee, which is currently examining the Bill, that the strategic policy steer from Defra was helpful. However, she said to act in accordance "is a strong steer. I am sure that that is what is intended, but it seems to go against the thrust of independent economic regulation. We would be more comfortable with something that said we would have to have regard to it, take it into account, give it due regard, or something like that". Asked about the duty that would be placed on Ofwat to ensure resilience of water and sewerage provision, Ross said Ofwat's concern is that a resilience duty might be seen by the water companies "as a licence to build, which is precisely what we have been trying to move away from with some of the innovations in our Periodic Review". She added that the regulator did not quite understand the problem that a resilience duty is intended to solve. She said: Looking back at decisions that we have taken in the past and thinking about how we might have done things differently with a resilience duty, it is hard to see that this duty would have changed the outcome in terms of standards of resilience compared with things we have done in the past because, obviously, resilience is a big part of the industry. It is important that supplies are resilient." Carbon Trust Standard for Southern SOuThErn WaTEr'S continued efforts to measure, manage and improve its carbon efficiency has earned it the Carbon Trust Standard. Administered by The Carbon Trust, the accolade acknowledges Southern Water's efforts to reduce its impact on the environment. The company is investing millions of pounds in carbon mitigation and energy efficiency schemes between 2010 and 2015. It now has Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units that produce renewable energy at 16 of its wastewater treatment works. These take biogas created during the treatment process and use it to provide 80% of the power needed on site with any surplus exported to the National Grid. Southern Water has the capacity to generate 70MkWh of electricity from its CHP units – 15% of its energy needs. Green cards for safer working COSTaIn haS launched a "green cards" initiative at its Severn Trent framework sites to recognise safer working. The initiative, part of the Costain Behavioural Safety (CBS) programme, follows on from the introduction of yellow and red cards for site staff demonstrating risky or unsafe behaviours. The green cards are given to staff who exhibit better, safer ways of working. Three green cards have been issued on the £16M project at Wanlip Inlet to deliver a new inlet works and storm handling facility Steve Kracher, operative, was given a green card for well-maintained stores; metalwork subcontractor EPSL earned one for high- quality workmanship; and Jason Philips, operative at subcontractor STAM Construction, gained his card for excellent standard of hand digging around services. Mark Tootell, project manager, said: "We already operated a red and yellow card system but we felt a more positive approach was also required to get people doing things because they wanted to." A similar scheme has also been introduced at Frankley Water Treatment Works where Costain is carrying out a £20M modernisation. So far two green cards have been awarded, one of which was for finding and repairing uncoupled joints in the dewatering system. COMING EVENTS January Water Industry asset Management January 28: Birmingham; W: www.wwt-asset.net MarCh World Water Tech Investment Summit March 10-12: London; W: www.worldwater.rethinkevents. com- aprIl Water Industry achievement awards April 1, 2014; Hilton Birmingham Metropole Birmingham www.waterindustryachievementawards.info IWEX Water live April 1-3; NEC, Birmingham W: www.sustainabilitylive.com/content/iwex edieWater events Check out www.edie.net/water for details of more conferences, training courses and similar events January 2014 | WET News | 3

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