Thames Gateway can be ‘water neutral’
The Thames Gateway could use the same amount of water in 2016 as it does now, providing that an ambitious water demand management programme is implemented as part of development in the area.
Announced at the 2007 Thames Gateway Forum, this news comes following a year long study into the feasibility of water neutrality in the Thames Gateway. The study, the first of its kind in the world, was commissioned by the Environment Agency, Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and Defra following the 2006 Thames Gateway Forum.
The South-East is already seriously water stressed, and with the planned construction of 160,000 new homes in the Thames Gateway it is vital that the regeneration of the area does not aggravate the problem The study has shown it is possible to have no rise in overall water usage for the Thames Gateway – even with significant levels of housing growth. In other words, the Thames Gateway can be ‘water neutral’.
At present total water demand in Thames Gateway is about 521 mega litres per day. Without a demand management programme this is expected to increase by 8 per cent to 563 mega litres per day by 2016, the final date for the housing development.
This means that for the Thames Gateway development to be water neutral a demand management programme needs to save about 42 mega litres (equivalent to half a million baths) per day.
According to the study the measures that have the greatest potential in achieving water neutrality include:
• New homes
Building new homes to higher water efficiency standards offers substantial water savings and could account for 9-17% of water saved.
Residents in the Gateway wanted to see all new homes built to high environmental standards.
• Retrofitting
Improving the water efficiency of existing homes through retrofitting water saving appliances could account for 23-47% of water saved.
This includes simple ‘fit and forget’ measures such as variable flush toilet devices, low flow showerheads and low flow tap inserts accounts.
• Metering
Metering of new and existing homes could account for 10% of water saved.
• Variable tariffs
Introducing variable tariffs could account for 22% of water saved.
Under this tariff structure the cost for each unit of water above a certain threshold is charged at a higher rate, encouraging consumers to use water wisely.
The study also included a survey of residents in the Thames Gateway. It found that while they expect future water shortages, they support increasing efforts to manage demand, such as metering, as long as everyone - households, businesses, water companies and others - does their bit.
Chief Executive for the Environment Agency Barbara Young said: “Water neutrality in the Thames Gateway by 2016 will be challenging goal for water companies, government and consumers – but this study shows that it can be done. It is essential that we all do our utmost to use water much more efficiently and protect the environment.
“Achieving water neutrality would also have a positive effect on cutting emissions from the Thames Gateway. But lets not forget all the other stuff. In order to be a real showcase for sustainable development we are working hard with government and delivery bodies to ensure that the other issues, such as flood risk, green space, waste management and the remediation of contaminated land, are carefully planned for and managed.”
Environment Minister Phil Woolas said: “There is no reason why growth and sustainable water use can’t go hand in hand. We all just have to be cleverer about the way we use water and understanding that is becoming increasingly important as the stress on our water resources increases. Over the year ahead we will be working with CLG, the Environment Agency, Ofwat and the water companies to look at how water neutrality can be delivered.”
Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper said: “The Government wants to make the Thames Gateway the UK’s first eco-region. It provides a real opportunity to test out new technologies to tackle climate change, but we must also ensure that we build the new homes that young people and families need. As well as setting tough standards for carbon emissions and conservation, we want to look at how we can make more efficient use of water too”.
