ESI lead Low Flow Consortium to Deliver Major Programme of Investigation for Severn Trent Water

The Environment Agency initially identified 31 sites for Severn Trent Water to investigate under the National Environment Plan in AMP5.  One site (the Worcestershire Middle Severn Sandstone groundwater unit) comprised 19 sub-sites for which individual assessment were required.  This was a substantial increase in the number of sites compared to previous AMP periods and meant that almost 15% of STWL’s annual average demand was potentially ear‑marked for sustainability reductions.

In July 2011 Severn Trent Water awarded this substantial programme of work to a consortium led by ESI supported by specialist inputs from APEM (aquatic ecology) and Hydro-Logic (hydrometry and hydrology).  This builds on similar work that the consortium successfully delivered for STWL during previous AMP cycles.

Following desk studies, more than 30 sites have been taken forward for further investigation and options appraisal.  Discussion with the Environment Agency has helped to finalise the scope in detail and work is now underway at all sites.  This includes: hydrological, ecological (fish, macroinvertebrate and habitats) and water quality monitoring, groundwater modelling, borehole construction, pumping tests, augmentation trials, impact assessment and options identification.  Work supporting STWL’s Drought Plan will also be carried out under this framework.

“We are delighted to have been awarded this major contract.  ESI, APEM and Hydro-Logic have worked closely with STWL for many years and have demonstrated how, as specialist suppliers working directly with the client and regulator, we can apply our skills and experience to develop new and innovative ways of tackling the challenges posed by this project.” Mike Streetly, ESI Director of Water Resources

Andy Banham, Severn Trent Water Limited Programme Manager said: “Following a successful relationship in previous AMPs we are confident that this consortium will deliver work to the high standards required by STWL/EA to satisfy the demands of this challenging programme” 

Notes:

The Restoring Sustainable Abstraction (RSA) Programme was set up by the Environment Agency in 1999 to identify and catalogue those sites which may be at risk from abstraction.  The RSA Programme forms part of the Environment Agency’s National Environmental Programme (NEP).  The NEP for AMP5 (2010 – 2015) is driven by the Environment Agency’s need to implement the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and local issues