ESI Preparing for the future
ESI is in the privileged position of having both the Environment Agency and water companies as clients and we have considerable experience and expertise in managing projects to deliver better understanding of the pressures affecting the future of water abstraction in England and Wales, and how best to address these pressures. The extra demand for water for public supply, agriculture and industry against reduced availability as a result of climate change makes it critical that actions are taken to ensure that rivers have sufficient water of appropriate quality to provide for people’s needs and to protect the environment. It is important that we ensure that areas currently under greater water stress are protected appropriately and that catchments with more availability are managed effectively to maximise their potential.
As the Environment Agency continues to investigate and implement the changes required to improve flows across England and Wales as part of the RSA programme, ESI is working on a number of projects designed to evaluate the best solutions that will make this programme successful for both water users and the environment.
The “Water for Life” White Paper points to a period of considerable change in the way water is managed in the UK and these changes are already beginning with the development of pilot catchments to benefit water quality and resources. The design of a new abstraction regime will start soon and it will be a challenge to involve all the interested parties and introduce a new system that benefits water users, delivers sufficient water to abstractors and adequately protects the environment for the long term future. The imminent revised guidelines for the next round of water company Water Resource Management Plans are an opportunity to help water companies deliver programmes of public water supply that will connect to and enhance the other programmes of change being developed.
2012 also sees the beginning of substantial change for the Environment Agency itself as EA Wales starts to establish itself as an independent body. There are many organisations, including ESI, within the water industry that work on both sides of the political border and would seek to work with both the new Single Environment Body in Wales and the Environment Agency. We look forward to using the opportunity this change will bring to maximise the positive outcomes and deliver real improvements for the environment in Wales and England.