WET News

MARCH 2016 WET NEWS 7 News+ Eight RBMPs approved to improve water quality • Approval comes despite concern most rivers and lakes will not meet EU pollution targets. D efra has published eight approved River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) setting out strategies to improve water quality in England. But according to the ENDS Report, the final plans show that most rivers, lakes and coastal and groundwaters will not meet legally binding EU water pollution targets by 2021 – six years a†er the initial deadline. Some will not even meet them by 2027. ENDS analysed the Environment Agency's (EA) dra† RBMPs in January and found that compliance with the Water Framework Directive(WFD) standards will rise to just 25% in 2021 – up from 17% in 2015. The RBMPs update the first plans published in 2009, and follow last year's government consultation. Each of the latest eight river basin districts (RBD) covers an entire river system, including river, lake, groundwater, estuarine and coastal water bodies. Defra said: "The updated 2015 plans build on the work already done to protect and improve over 9,320 miles of rivers over the last five years. They set out how a minimum of 680 (14%) of waters will improve over the next six years from around £3bn investment." Overall objectives for the RBMPs are: • 75% of surface water bodies in England have an objective of good ecological status or potential • 87% of groundwater bodies in England have an objective of good chemical status and 82% have an objective of good quantitative status • 94% of the elements that define ecological status have an objective of good status There are strong links between RBMPs and the UK's Marine Strategy which implements the Marine Strategy Framework Directive – measures in the RBMPs will contribute to achieving good environmental status in the UK seas. According to the Environ- ment Agency (EA), the following are significant water manage- ment issues in the river basin districts: • Physical modifications – affecting 39% of water bodies in England • Pollution from waste water – affecting 35% of water bodies in England • Pollution from towns, cities and transport – affecting 11% of water bodies in England • Changes to the natural flow and level of water - affecting 6% of water bodies in England • Negative effects of non- native invasive species – affecting 2% of water bodies in England • Pollution from rural areas - affecting 35% of water bodies in England • Pollution from aban- doned mines – affecting 3% of water bodies in England The latest data shows that agriculture and rural land management, together with the water industry, are the two sectors identified as the principal contributors to pressures preventing waters reaching good status in England. There are 11 river basin districts in England and Wales -the Environment Agency manage the 7 RBDs in England and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) manage the Western Wales RBD. NRW and the Environment Agency jointly manage the Dee and Severn RBDs and in Scotland the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Environment Agency jointly manage the Solway Tweed RBD. • Frameworks with Yorkshire Water and Welsh Water feature among the group's 2015 highlights. M organ Sindall has announced an adjusted group operating profit of £38.8M last year, a rise of 34% on the £28.9M achieved in 2014. Revenue was £2.38bn, 7% more than for 2014. The group said the increase was driven by 20% revenue growth in Fit Out and in Construction & Infrastructure, which was up 5%. Within its Utility Services business Morgan Sindall continues its work to upgrade and enhance the UK's water networks having been reappointed to two key frameworks, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and Yorkshire Water, for AMP6. Projects include clean water and wastewater schemes ranging in value from around £100,000 to £35M. A recently completed project for Welsh Water was the £25M million upgrade of four wastewater treatment works in South Wales to reduce the total phosphorous concentration within each works' final effluent discharge. The approved plans set out how 14% of waters will improve Morgan Sindall reports 34% increase in operating profit for last year Morgan Sindall, in joint venture, has also been awarded its second project on the five- year framework agreement for electricity transmission overhead line work with SHE (Scottish Hydro Electric) Transmission. The framework took effect from November 2013 and will involve the design, supply, installation and commissioning of new-build overhead lines as well as the refurbishment and upgrade of existing overhead lines in northern Scotland. Nick Fletcher, managing director of Morgan Sindall's Infrastructure division, said: "Morgan Sindall continues to focus on its customers' needs and, using its extensive experience, develop solutions on a wide range of construction and infrastructure projects across the UK. Our strong future pipeline is increasingly based on long term relationships and combined with our commitment to delighting our customers, positions us well for the year ahead." HDPE valve cuts energy use for Welsh pumping station N atural Resources Wales (NRW) has upgraded one of its drainage pumping stations with the introduction of a new Archimedes screw pump equipped with a new High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) flap valve. The project was designed and installed by ECS Engineering Services with initial energy consumption figures showing a reduction of more than 40% compared to the original arrangement. With responsibilities to maintain almost 2,000 miles of flood defences, main rivers and 4,000-plus sluices, outfalls, floodgates and barriers, NRW has a great deal of involvement in the waterways of Wales. Part of its responsibility is to maintain the drainage systems and ensure that they operate as efficiently as possible. The project included replacing the cast iron flap valve mechanism that ensures a one-way flow of the drainage water and can prevent any tidal water from the River Severn from entering the freshwater channels. The new 1,000mm HDPE flap valve will ensure the complete installation will provide a durable and efficient solution for years to come. Due to the nature of the site it was not possible to lower the water levels sufficiently to a llow a conventional 'dry' installation. In this type of situation, ECS used one of its certified underwater dive teams to install the new flap valve and the sub frame for the new screw pump. This approach also meant that the local water levels remained unaffected throughout the project. Jamie Wesley, commercial manager at ECS' Water Control Division, said: "This project demonstrates just one of the many applications that can benefit from the durable design of HDPE flap valves. The reduced weight compared to the cast iron alternative means that the pump uses less energy to maintain the flow of water, increasing the overall savings created by this project." The lightweight HDPE flap valve reduces pumping pressure requirements T hree environmental NGOs have described the water companies as being "unambitious" over their proposed number of Abstraction Incentive Mechanism (AIM) sites. However, the majority of water companies consider the number to "be about right". The differing views are outlined in the minutes from the AIM Taskforce's meeting last month, which discussed responses to Ofwat's consultation on the taskforce's proposals and to agree the next steps. The taskforce comprises nine water companies, Ofwat, the Environment Agency, and WWF-UK. According to the minutes, the water companies consider the number of AIM sites reflected that a lot of measures have been taken to reduce abstraction problems, such as long-term abstraction impacts. Respondents to the consultation agreed that water companies should engage with their Customer Challenge Groups (CCGs). However, there was some concern that as CCGs o†en do not include many environmental experts and, as a result, may not be well placed to challenge a company effectively. Some respondents suggested that companies could engage with local Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) partnerships or other local organisations on their selection of sites. Taskforce members added that there are existing engagement processes in areas such as water resource management plans that could be used to engage on the AIM sites. The taskforce's reporting and monitoring proposals are supported by the vast majority of respondents, although one company felt the AIM "was too restrictive" and did not allow for other solutions to environmental problems such as managing flows from reservoirs or river morphology. Some taskforce water company members expressed concern about how the proposals relate to companies with no AIM sites, and whether they could give a negative impression of those firms. Ofwat said it planned to issue dra† guidelines for how the AIM would operate to taskforce members for comment in mid-February with a final version published in March. Several company taskforce members said that they could start operating the AIM in April 2016. Water firms unambitious over proposed AIM site numbers

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