The Environment Agency has published proposals to reduce abstractions by Thames Water in order to protect the River Kennet – one of three of the UK's iconic 'chalk streams' - unique river systems found only in England and pockets of northern France.
The Kennet, together with the rivers Itchen and the Upper Lee, also happen to be among the most heavily abstracted rivers in the UK.
The Environment Agency is proposing to change the licence number held by Thames Water Utilities Limited at Axford Pumping Station in order to protect the River Kennet, which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Agency is also proposing to revoke the utility’s licence at Ogbourne Pumping Station.
Thames Water’s licence at Axford allows it to take a total of 13,100 cubic metres (m³) of water a day and 3,660,000 m³ of water a year (or up to 4,049,000 m³ a year in an emergency) until the 31 March 2017. From 1 April 2017 Thames will be allowed to abstract a total of13,100 m³ a day, with the overall annual total reduced to 3,410,000 m³ a year.
The proposal to change the licence includes two new conditions as follows:
- The first condition will restrict abstraction so that it does not exceed 6,000 m³ a day when the flow in the River Kennet as gauged by the Environment Agency at its Knighton Gauging Station is equal to or less than 100,000 m³ per day.
- The second condition will restrict the transfer of water outside of the Kennet Catchment so that it does not exceed 3,000 m³ a day when the flow in the River Kennet as gauged by the Environment Agency at its Knighton Gauging Station is equal to or less than 100,000 m³ per day.
Both conditions will become effective on 1 April 2017. The Environment Agency also proposes to include a time limit of 31 March 2023 to the licence.
The Agency is also separately proposing to cancel Thames Water’s existing licence at Ogbourne Pumping Station where it can currently abstract a total of 13,638 m³ of water a day and an overall total of 2,954,962 m³ of water a year. The proposal is to revoke the licence with effect from 1 April 2017.
The Environment Agency has made the proposals, together with similar proposals for other water companies, as part of a programme to help restore sustainable abstraction.
Attendees at next month’s National Civils Show, Floodex, National Drainage Show and Waterways Management on 26th and 27th November are set to benefit from an expert speaker line-up and the opportunity to visit a wide range of exhibitors all co-located in one place at Excel, London, one of the UK’s leading international exhibition and convention centres.
Tackling leakage is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways for utilities to bolster water security, writes Ben Crabtree, Product Line Director, Ovarro, revealing how the potential of smart technologies is being demonstrated around the world.
UK-headquartered South Staffordshire Plc, the integrated services group operating within the UK critical infrastructure and essential services markets, has received a prestigious Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Award for global health and safety excellence.
Balfour Beatty, the UK’s largest construction and infrastructure provider, has delivered exceptional environmental results on the Thames Estuary Asset Management 2100 (TEAM2100) framework, one of the nation’s most ambitious flood defence initiatives.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video. 
What is to be done about the UK’s failing utilities? Listen to Professor Dieter Helm explore the options to tackle the UK’s failing utilities – Thames Water, the Royal Mail and Network Rail in particular.