The Water Framework Directive Anglian Waters perspective

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The Water Framework DirectiveAnglian Waters
perspective

• Clive Harward Head of Water Quality
  Environmental Performance

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overview

• Context
• Anglian Water and the region we serve
• Preparing for the Water Framework Directive
• Where are we now?
• Looking forwards
• What do we think are the opportunities and
  challenges
• An example to illustrate these issues...

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About Anglian Water the company

• Geographically the largest of the 10 regional
  water and wastewater companies
• 20 of the area of England Wales
• Water supply to 4,160,000
• Wastewater services to 5,700,000
• 1077 Sewage Treatment Works 36,000 km of sewers
• 962 Ml wastewater treated every day

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About Anglian Water the region we serve

• Anglian Water covers a region of approximately
  27,500km2 and has
• 3,000km of coastline with beaches and estuaries
• the UKs only wetland national park the Norfolk
  Broads
• over 750 sites of special scientific interest
• numerous endangered species

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Preparing for the Water Framework Directive we
are we now?

• We are not starting from scratch! Indeed there
  is much to celebrate..
• Our rivers are the cleanest they have been for
  decades
• 90 (water quality) and 99 (biology) rated as
  good or fair
• Smallest share of bad quality rivers in England
  and Wales
• Bathing Waters are the best on record
• Largely due to the successive water industry
  investment in infrastructure improvements since
  privatisation

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Preparing for the Water Framework Directive
looking forwards

• As a sector the water industry has been actively
  involved with the Environment Agency and other
  key stakeholders ..
• Helping to formulate policy at a national and
  European level.
• Supporting RD in collaboration with the
  Environment Agency and others to inform the
  decision-making process
• Helping to shape implementation early stage of
  process but companies committed to support the
  River Basin District Liaison Panels across the
  country
• Anglian Water nominated to represent the water
  sector on Anglian region RBDLP

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Key opportunities and challengesa company
perspective

• We recognise that the WFD is the most substantial
  change in water legislation
• If implemented soundly, there are real benefits
  to be achieved for both the environment and
  society, and ensuring the quality of drinking
  water sources for future
• Echo the 5 principles of good regulation promoted
  by the Better Regulation Commission
• Proportionality
• Accountability
• Consistency
• Transparency
• Targeting

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Key opportunities and challengesa company
perspective

• We recognise that the water sector has a
  contribution to make in delivering the WFD
  objectives
• However we promote sectoral equity the
  contribution we make should be fair and
  proportionate with that of others
• Similarly, decisions on investment needs for
  any sector - should be sustainable in the long
  term and based on sound science
• Robustness of cost/benefit models to ensure cost
  effective solutions without disproportionate cost
  
• If these ideas are not embraced then we risk
  missing the holistic environmental outcomes sought

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An example.. Phosphorous control

• Eutrophication is a key issue for the Anglian
  region limiting nutrient for inland waters is
  phosphate
• Situation exacerbated by low river flows
• 83 of our rivers have high concentrations of
  phosphate

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Phosphate control (1)What Anglian Water has done

• AMP2 programme (1995 - 2000)
• P removal at 28 sites (most v large gt100,000PE)
• AMP3 programme (2000 2005)
• P removal at 50 sites (mostly medium sized
  gt10,000PE)
• AMP4 programme (2005 2010)
• Starting point.. over half volume discharged to
  inland waters already subject to active P control
  highest proportion of any company
• Further P removal planned at up to 100 sites
  (mostly small lt10,000PE)

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Phosphate control (2)Wider implications of point
source control

• Phosphorous removal achieved through chemical
  dosing of iron salts this has environmental
  implications..
• Transport of dosing chemicals
• Increased sludge production and nature of sludge
  more problematic to treat
• Increased energy use
• Iron discharges gtgt environment
• A key decision is whether tertiary treatment is
  required
• Usually via sandfilters gtgt step change in
  environmental impact (energy, construction etc)
• Further increases sludge production

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Phosphate control (3)There is a limit to what
more point source control can achieve

• Diminishing returns from further point source
  control
• Need to balance against environmental cost
• Needs to be tackled in combination with other
  sources
• Without holistic approach environmental
  outcomes will not be achieved

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Phosphate control (4)Needs cross sector action
to deliver environmental outcomes

• Diffuse water pollution from agriculture a key
  issue
• Defra publication Mapping the Problem
• 50 phosphorous input to rivers is from
  agriculture
• Need to manage these wider issues as we plan for
  meeting the goals of the Water Framework
  Directive (WFD)
• Opposite - Summary of Environment Agencys
  assessment of impact of diffuse sources against
  WFD objectives

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Thank you