WET News

MAY 2016 WET NEWS 3 T he government must take a 'radical approach' to ood defence strategy, transferring ood defence asset ownership to water companies, according to investment bank Investec. Analysts at the • rm said measures to boost ood funding announced in the Budget 2016 are "piecemeal and reactionary". The measures – including an increase in insurance premium tax of 0.5% and a new national insurance scheme (Flood Re) designed to reduce the cost of insurance – will do "little to incentivise the right level and type of investment to manage ood risks", they said. They suggested ood defence assets should be privatised into a regulated capital value, owned by water companies, so that they are renumerated as part of RCV through water and wastewater customer bills. "The water companies do not currently own ood defence assets per se," they said. "In fact there does not yet exist a comprehensive register of ood defence assets. "Meanwhile, there is a growing view that recent and prospective investment in ood defences by the Environment Agency falls short of meeting the challenges of climate change and population growth." AŽ er severe storms battered the UK in November and over the Christmas period, the government announced in January that it would carry out a full review of the UK's ood defence strategy. The National Flood Resilience Review is being Y orkshire Water's £78M project to upgrade its Blackburn Meadows wastewater treatment works, which serves around 832,000 people in Shež eld and Rotherham, has been completed. The investment has been made to upgrade or re-build every aspect of the works, which now features the latest technology. The re-construction has resulted in eight new primary settlement tanks, four new • nal settlements tanks, and a new Water companies should own flood defence assets, says Investec chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Letwin, and is set to be published in the summer of 2016. It will focus on four key areas, including the UK's future investment strategy. Ofwat chief executive Cathryn Ross opened the door to water companies taking on responsibility for co-ordinating and implementing ood defences last October, suggesting they are "in the frame" for taking over from the Environment Agency on delivering ood schemes. There are mixed views in the sector on roles of water companies in ood defence. One of the UK's biggest water companies, Severn Trent Water, has said it supports the idea of a debate on water companies' role in ood defences. However, Anglian Water has argued that partnerships with councils can work just as well, without the need for a "sweeping reform of ownership and responsibilities". WET News is registered at Stationers' Hall. Origination by Faversham House and TR Clash Ltd. Printed by Buxton Press, Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6AE. Copyright 2016. Faversham House. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publishers. Every e‹ ort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in WET News. However, Faversham House will not be liable for any inaccuracies. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers. Text paper is printed on PEFC accredited paper. For more info see www.PEFC.org. License number PEFC/16-33-141. Technical articles of full page, or more appearing in this journal are indexed by British Technical Index. Editor Maureen Gaines: maureengaines@fav-house.com Ad sales Deborah Lilley: deborahlilley@fav-house.com Classifi ed sales Danielle Mason: daniellemason@fav-house.com Team administrator Clare Klos: clareklos @fav-house.com Production controller Sharon Miller: sharonmiller@fav-house.com Publisher Angela Himus: angelahimus@fav-house.com Published by Faversham House Ltd, Faversham House, Windsor Court, Wood Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 1UZ Call: 01342 332000 Publisher's note: This issue includes editorial photographs provided and paid for by suppliers. 1yr: UK £109 Overseas (airmail) £123/$185 2yr: UK £191 Overseas (airmail) £219/$329 Call: 020 8955 7045 Email: fhcustomerservices@ abacusemedia.com Search WET News' archives for more jobs, news, features, products and services, events and training courses. wwtonline.co.uk Average circulation Jan-Dec 2014: 6,110 If you wish to make a complaint about the editorial content of this issue please contact the editor. 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That's how much water we've cut from our production process to make our beer more sustainable #Earthday @GuinnessIreland aeration system that uses biological treatment to kill bacteria in waste water. The scheme has helped improve river water quality with more than £40M spent on high-tech wastewater treatment processes. This has resulted in reduced ammonia levels in water released into the River Don. Yorkshire Water was supported by contract partners Black & Veatch, ETM and Morgan Sindall Grontmij on the project. "The water companies do not currently own flood defence assets per se. In fact, there does not yet exist a comprehensive register of flood defence assets" Ivestec The works has four new ¦ nal settlement tanks © Analysts claim the EA's flood defences fall short of meeting population growth and climate change. 100% of water we us is cleaned & recycled. Just doing our part this #EarthDay! @CambriaQuartz

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