Collaboration is key to preserving our natural habitats

2021 is set to be a pivotal year for the water industry with the passage of the Environment Bill and COP26 set to catalyse much needed action to combat the effects of climate change. Having experienced one of the driest April’s on record, the effects of population growth, water stress and pollution have exacerbated supply shortages and accelerated the decline of the delicate ecosystems and natural environments that our country’s rivers and waterways sustain.

A national debate around legacy infrastructure like combined sewage overflows (CSOs), and how best to find solutions that not only channel surface runoff more efficiently but are also sustainable and reduce the impact of pollution, is ongoing.

The Environment Bill has changed to reflect the growth of public concern around the issue. The bill contains three measures directly related to Storm Releases:

• A duty on government to publish a plan by September 2022 to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows
• A duty on government to report to Parliament on progress on implementing the plan
• A duty on water companies to publish data on storm overflow operation on an annual basis

The good news is that the industry is already pushing ahead with disclosing data. At Southern Water we have Event Duration Monitoring on 98 per cent of outfalls and publish storm release data in near real time on bathing water related outfalls. What about rivers – the current focus of deep concern? We regularly publish that data and watch this space for real time disclosure.

EDM has been a big challenge for the industry but even harder work lies ahead. Ending storm release by separating every surface water drain from every sewer across the nation would be a 30 year and at least £125 billion project. Aside from the gigantic disruption this would cause there is clearly an opportunity cost to setting out on that journey.

As an industry, we know our customers expect us to play our part in protecting the treasured natural environments that we value so highly. However, there is no silver bullet to instantly fix these infrastructure challenges. We firmly believe the answer instead lies in collaboration and working in partnership with other industries and stakeholders, to develop integrated and nature-based approaches that deliver genuine sustainable solutions.

At Southern Water, we’ve deployed this approach in an effort to protect the world-renowned natural habitats within Hampshire’s Chichester and Langstone Harbours. In addition to the launch of £5m environmental improvement fund delivering initiatives that provide both nature-based solutions and environment net-gain, we are also hosting a summit convening senior industry and community leaders, with the aim of collectively developing solutions to improve water quality and protect biodiversity in the harbours.

Whether it’s working with farmers within the catchment area to reduce mineral leeching or considering the feasibility of a moratorium on emptying of bilges while in the harbour, we believe convening a discussion with the different industries and individuals involved, including local communities, is the best way of identifying and facilitating solutions.

To reinforce the impact of sustainable, nature-based solutions it’s important that they are underpinned by continued investment in the wastewater network, reducing the risk of storm overflows and other forms of environmental degradation. This has been a central focus for the sector and we’ve invested over £3 billion on network improvements since 2015 which has led to significant reductions in nitrates entering the Chichester & Langstone Harbours from wastewater treatment works in the area, a key cause of ecological decline.

Alongside the work to prevent pollution, it’s also critical that we are transparent when issues do occur.  As an industry we must ensure that when storm overflows take place, we provide information to the public in an accurate and timely fashion. To do this, we’ve accelerated the deployment of our online storm release notification system, Beachbuoy, which provides real time information about combined sewage overflows activity at designated bathing waters and recreational watercourses.

The challenges that face our natural environments of across the country cannot be underestimated. The dual threat of climate change and population growth have and will continue to create additional pressures in many already water-stressed regions.

The water industry has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to tackle these challenges, reinforcing its importance as a critical infrastructure sector at the heart of the UK’s decarbonisation and environmental protection push. To seize this chance, water companies put must their heads above the parapet and drive collaboration between all stakeholders to bring about the sustainable solutions needed to protect natural habitats that we cherish.