Water Resources Management Plan 2009 and Public Inquiry
The Water Resources Management Plan Regulations 2007 required water companies to produce a draft Statutory Water Resources Management Plan for public consultation. During the period 2nd May to 25th July 2008 the public and interested bodies such as the Environment Agency commented on draft the Plan. Following the period of consultation the Company published its Statement of Response (see below) on 30th January 2009.
On the 3rd August 2009 Defra announced that the Company's Water Resources Management Plan would be subject to a Public Hearing presided over by the Planning Inspectorate.
Following a review of the evidence the Inspector advised that an Inquiry would be necessary to examine the Water Resources Management Plan rather than a Public Hearing. The planned Inquiry has now been cancelled while a full consultation takes place on the Updated Draft Plan which was published on 3rd September 2010 (See below).
Portsmouth Water has a long history of water resource planning and our customers have reaped the benefit of our predecessors forward thinking. However the new statutory process for preparing Water Resources Management Plans is more complex than previously and it involves a public consultation phase.
A number of issues were raised in the representations to the Draft Plan which the Company believed it had clarified in its Statement of Response to Stakeholders which it issued in January 2009.
In the response to the Company on 3rd August 2009, the Secretary of State questioned the basis of our forecasts and the appraisal process used to finalise our Plan.
Following further dialogue with a number of stakeholders, revisions have been made to the Company’s Final Planning Solution which has been set out in the Updated Draft Plan published on 3rd September 2010.
Updated Draft Water Resources Management Plan 2009 - Public Consultation
Portsmouth Water has published an Updated Draft Water Resources Management Plan on 3rd September 2010, which has taken account of the initial Draft Plan published in May 2008, the Statement of Response dated 30th January 2009, and the subsequent dialogue with the Environment Agency and other Stakeholders since the Secretary of State's letter of 3rd August 2009.
The Company is now seeking your view on the Updated Plan and we would be grateful if you would write to or email Defra direct at the following address by the 12th November 2010;
John Sherman
Department for Environment
Water Supply and Regulation Division
2nd Floor, Area 2C
Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London SW1P 2AL
Email: Water.resources@defra.gsi.gov.uk
It is important to note that representations submitted on the previous draft plan and any other documents prepared for public examination will not be considered in this consultation on the Updated Draft Plan.
The Final Planning Solution which is now included in the Updated Draft Plan includes the following elements;
A compulsory metering programme utilising automatic meter reading (AMR) technology over a 15 year period from 2015-2030.
A programme of leakage savings delivering a 3ml/d leakage reduction between 2015 and 2020.
The construction of a Washwater Recovery Plant at Farlington Water Treatment Works in 2017/18.
The development of Havant Thicket Winter Storage Reservoir filled by surplus yield from the Company’s Havant and Bedhampton Springs between 2025 and 2035.
The Company justifies the selection of this solution through;
A 15 year compulsory metering programme will help to minimise the financial impact for customers whilst beginning the programme in 2015 to enable the experiences and effects of Southern Water Services recently announced programme to be used to best effect.
Leakage savings are supported by customers and they demonstrate the Company’s commitment to encouraging water efficiency.
Developing the Washwater Recovery Plant will demonstrate the Company’s commitment to using water wisely.
The development of Havant Thicket Winter Storage Reservoir will maximise the use of the Company’s Havant and Bedhampton Springs source whilst providing significant environmental and “Green Infrastructure” benefits for the Community.
The Updated Draft Plan includes a commitment to work with the Environment Agency and other stakeholders in conducting a further review of the key assumptions which will be needed in time for the next Water Resources Management Plan in 2015. It should be noted that the Updated Draft Plan does not include the need for any supply/demand investment in the period up to 2015.
Please click here to download a copy of the Updated Draft Water Resources Management Plan 2009 and Appendices.
A copy of the Plan is available to inspect at the Company's Head Office in Havant.
Public Inquiry
The timetable for the Inquiry has been halted by Defra and the proposed Inquiry cancelled.