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BIODIVERSITY The Company's Biodiversity Action Plan has been produced to promote the ecology and biodiversity of operational sites owned by Portsmouth Water Ltd, a regulated water company and subsidiary of South Downs Ltd. The Company is responsible for the supply and distribution of drinking water to 270,000 homes and 17,000 businesses in an area covering south-east Hampshire and part of West Sussex. Portsmouth Water is responsible for the abstraction, treatment, supply and distribution of drinking water only; it does not carry out any sewerage or sewerage disposal functions.
The Company's policy is to conserve and enhance the natural environment of its land and water areas and to preserve historic buildings and equipment, so far as is consistent with the primary duty of providing a sufficient supply of wholesome water at reasonable cost. Where possible the Company explores opportunities to encourage recreational use. The Company has a long history of good practice in consultation and development in an area with many important wildlife sites and with landscape appreciated by residents and a large number of visitors. When new structures and buildings are required, the Company's policy is to ensure that, by careful design and landscaping, they blend into their surroundings. We continue to give full consideration to the environmental aspects of all our activities throughout our area of supply.
This Plan seeks to build on a number of initiatives already taken by the Company in respect of conservation. These have tended to be small schemes, sometimes conducted jointly with local conservation groups. Te plan takes a more structured approach to maximise the conservation opportunities open to the Company, while taking account of the restrictions imposed by the requirements of water industry law and regulators.
By the very nature of their technical function, water companies generally find that ecological conservation and promotion of biodiversity are key factors in the construction, operation and maintenance of their assets. Portsmouth Water is no different in this respect. It owns and operates sites in the valleys of the rivers Itchen, Hamble, Meon, Ems and Lavant, on the chalk hills of the South Downs and Portsdown Hill and in close proximity to the coast. Given the importance of these areas in general terms for biodiversity, it is inevitable that there will be instances where Company activities can have a significant impact on biodiversity, if those activities are not carried out in the most appropriate manner. Site Characteristics Operational water company assets built above ground all have one particular and fundamental characteristic that can promote biodiversity, namely the non-use of pesticides and weedkillers in all but a very few locations. Use of such products is rigorously avoided to reduce the risk of pollution of public water supplies. Another key feature of such sites is that they can often be surrounded by agricultural land and may present a good opportunity to maintain or introduce an 'oasis' of wider biodiversity than may exist elsewhere in the vicinity. Thus, although the Company's sites are often small and generally not contiguous with each other, there is nonetheless a valuable opportunity to enhance biodiversity.
The water industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries. The three principal regulators are the Office of Water Services (OFWAT - economic regulation), the Environment Agency (environmental regulation) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI - regulator of drinking water quality). These three regulators, along with others, act to ensure that monopoly water companies take account of the interests of customers, the environment and consumers. Sometimes compliance with the statutory requirements of these regulators or water industry law may conflict directly with Portsmouth Water's ideal biodiversity aspirations.
The Company commissioned ECOSA of Grateley, Andover, Hants, to carry out an ecological survey of all its sites. This was carried out in summer/autumn 2000 and supplemented by further particular survey work in spring 2001. Based on that work, this Plan reviews the various habitats and species to be found on these sites and examines the issues affecting their biodiversity. The sites are generally of limited size and range from 0.1 hectares at Slindon Service Reservoir to 30 hectares at the Company's Head Office and Source Works at Havant. The survey concentrated on establishing the habitat value of the sites, identifying scarce, protected and Biodiversity Action Plan species. Each site was evaluated based on the species and habitat types present and graded low, medium or high conservation value, where high conservation value equates roughly to SINC (Site of Importance for Nature Conservation) quality. In total 5 sites were identified as being of high value, 16 of medium value and 21 sites of low value.
High Conservation Value Sites At the River Itchen Water Treatment Works, a mix of woodland, dry grassland and wetland is capable of supporting a wide range of birds, mammals, reptiles and flora. At Fort Southwick Service Reservoir, the species rich unimpaired calcareous grassland supports a range of birds, mammals, reptiles, flora including orchids and invertebrates, several of which are notable species. At Nore Hill Service Reservoir, a diverse mix of grassland types potentially support a number of reptiles and flora. At Slindon Service Reservoir, the operational site is of low value but the surrounding grassland and woodland supports a variety of species. At Madehurst Service Reservoir the moderately species rich calcareous grassland is believed to support a number of reptiles and invertebrates. Nearby derelict buildings (not in Portsmouth Water ownership) are believed to support a local bat colony.
At a number of Treatment Works and Service Reservoir sites there are various grassland, woodland, stream and pond habitats, as well as several former chalk quarries. Many of the sites support a wide range of birds, mammals, reptiles, flora and invertebrates.
Low Conservation Value Sites The remaining operational sites, mostly Treatment Works, provide opportunities for birds, mammals and flora on species rich calcareous and other grassland.
Habitat management guidelines were also formulated.
This Plan lists the principal habitats and species that were found on the sites surveyed. Using the recommendations of the ecological survey, it then draws up the following Action Plans:- Habitat Action Plans covering Hedgerows, Trees and Woodland, Grassland and Streams and Ponds. Hedgerows - encouraging thickening and redevelopment, together with new planting of native species appropriate to the site location. Where possible considering the use of hedge-laying techniques. Trees and Woodland - maintaining and encouraging planting of native stock which supports wildlife diversity. Restricting grass-cutting and excavations to safe distances from the track as well as retaining deadwood where possible. Grassland - minimising grass-cutting to specific time periods to encourage diversity of wildflower stock, and rotating uncut areas to maximise overall species diversity. Streams and Ponds - developing individual management schemes for ponds and streams to support invertebrates where present.
Species Action Plans covering Bats, Badgers, Dormice, Reptiles, Great Crested Newts and Birds. Bats - as well as encouraging their presence by erecting further breeding and resting places, ensuring that such locations are properly protected. Badgers - ensuring that badgers are protected from the Company's actions in accordance with the relevant legislation. Dormice - ensuring that dormice are protected from the Company's actions in accordance with the relevant legislation. Reptiles - where works are likely to affect the habitats of reptiles, developing a migration strategy prior to works commencing. Great Crested Newts - ensuring protection to newts, eggs, tadpoles and juveniles. Birds - ensuring that wild birds are protected from the Company's actions and operations as well as enhancing habitats where possible. Location Action Plans are also listed on a site-by-site basis for ease of management by Company staff.
It is anticipated that the Biodiversity Action Plan will be an 'active document' with individual Action Plans being regularly updated and amended with further ecological surveys carried out in future years.
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