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Claims that a future shale gas industry represents a threat to the security of public water supplies are “alarmist”, according to a report published today.
The independent study, by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) assess the likely viability, scale and timing of shale gas exploitation in the UK.
It also considers what the implications of hydraulic fracturing of shale would be for water resources, water treatment and the water environment.
The study found that at the exploratory phase, water demand is not likely to be significant compared to other users and it is likely that operators will continue to source water on a site by site basis, depending on where the closest source is and how easy it is to transfer.
CIWEM said that the amount of water a single company might be asked for is small in comparison to other demands.
While estimates show that to meet ten per cent of the UK gas demand from shale gas over 20 years would require 1.2 – 1.6 million metres cubed of water per year, this is a small amount compared to the volume of water currently licensed to be taken from the environment annually, equating to less than one tenth of one per cent of total abstraction, according to the organisation.
However, CIWEM warned that should a shale industry become established in the 2020s, when there will be greater pressures on the water environment, there could be local issues with water sourcing, especially in the water stressed South East.
Nigel Hendley, CIWEM’s interim chief executive, said: “The recent Memorandum of Understanding between the industry groups UKOOG and Water UK should assist in planning water resources in the future for the industry. However CIWEM would like to see this taken a step further with water and sewerage companies becoming statutory consultees in the shale gas planning process regardless of whether they are to continue to provide and treat water for the industry. This would give water and sewerage companies the ability to ensure that they are able to deliver their duties and safeguard a resilient water supply system for the future.”
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