Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/904738
www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | DECEMBER 2017 | 5 GET ON BOARD: Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has hosted a group of sixth formers to work with its board to help it make big decisions on its future. The not-for-profit water utility invited 15 young people from schools across South Wales, aged 16-18, to form the Youth Board to advise the Board of Glas Cymru – which owns Welsh Water – on how to tackle significant issues facing the company in the future. A wildlife corridor created by South East Water in Swinley Forest during the construction of a 5km major new strategic water main has been hailed as a significant environmental success by Natural England. The heathland 'corridor' created as part of the £6.5M project in 2014/5 now boasts rare animal species such as woodlark, grayling butterfly and common lizards. QUOTE OF THE MONTH "Our work is finished, and the beast finally defeated a er a mammoth effort from the team. It was some of the most gut-wrenching work imaginable." Alex Saunders, waste network manager for Thames Water, a er the utility overcame the enormous Whitechapel fatberg Yorkshire Water has launched an ambitious and innovative pilot to reduce flooding in Calderdale which involves the planting of around 200,000 trees. The trees are one of a series of measures planned to help slow the flow of flood water in the Calder Valley; a wide range of initiatives such as leaky dams and blanket bog restoration will be introduced to the landscape to help reduce flood risk and enhance the environment. The utility also intends to trial a change in how some of the reservoirs above Hebden Bridge are managed this winter, with a reduction in the levels in some of the reservoirs to allow for flood storage. 559 The number of complaints received by the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) from non-household water customers during the second quarter of this year, the first following the opening of the non-household retail market on April 1st. The watchdog said it had expected to see an increase in contact from businesses while the industry adjusts to the new market. However, complaints to it have increased at a faster rate during the second quarter, and CCWater is putting pressure on all retailers to reverse that trend in the coming months. GOOD MONTH FOR… Severn Trent, which has earned outperformance rewards of £38.4 million - against its sewer flooding targets and other commitments - according to the latest update on outcome delivery incentive performance from Ofwat. The midlands utility has proposed to only take £11.4 million of the payment next year, deferring the additional payment to the next AMP cycle, to avoid a "potential financial impact" for customers.. BAD MONTH FOR… South West Water, which faces a penalty of £2.09 million under the same mechanism for underperformance on serious pollution incidents over the last two years. The company pointed out that it was making "good progress" on its business plan, and had earned rewards for outperforming its targets on leakage. All water companies have committed to improve their performance for 2015-20 based on customer consultation. Companies that underperform incur penalties, while companies delivering "above and beyond" can earn outperformance payments. GETTING STARTED NUMBERS FOREST PATH