Northumbrian Water Limited 9 March 2011 Flooding - The role of water companies in addressing flooding and SuDs. Les Hall New Development Manager Introduction Northumbrian Water and our sewerage role. Our Strategic Direction Statement. Conventional approach to surface water management A new approach to surface water management SuDS how far have we come? How sustainable are SuDS? Questions
NWL s role as a sewerage undertaker Assets Number System zones 11 Drainage Areas 477 Northumbrian Water Sewage Pumping Stations Sewage treatment works Combined Sewer Overflows Manholes Sewers (Total) Sewers (Foul) Sewers (Surface Water) 683 437 1500 500,000 + 15529 km 3048 km 3966 km Essex & Suffolk Water Sewers (Combined) 8515 km NWL s role Sewerage Undertaker Section 94 - To provide, improve and extend such a system of public sewers.to ensure its area is and continues to be effectively drained. Section 98 - To provide new off site sewer requisitions for new development. Section 104 To manage the adoption of sewers serving new development sites including conventional piped storm water storage systems. Section 106 To manage the connection of new development to the sewerage system. Planning applications currently a non-statutory consultee. Regional planning a consultee for PPS11 Regional Spatial Strategies and PPS12 Local Development Frameworks with particular regard to flood risk and infrastructure capacity provision. Impact of surface water upon the public sewerage system
Impact of surface water upon the public sewerage system Impact of surface water upon the public sewerage system Impact of surface water upon the public sewerage system
Resolving sewer flooding 81m invested 2005-2010 758 properties removed from at risk 120m investment plan 2010-2015 1060 properties funded 2010-2015 Design criteria 1 in 30 return Cost/benefit analysis Resolving sewer flooding Resolving sewer flooding
NWL strategy Our Strategic Direction Statement published in 2007 sets out our aims for the next 25 years and beyond. Significant investment likely to be required to deal with climate change, particularly to manage the risk of flooding caused by surface water from more intense rainfall NWL strategy Waste Water Services Intermediate Goal Long Term Aspiration Strategic, long term sewerage plan Properties experiencing internal sewer flooding Properties experiencing external sewer flooding Produce a plan by 2013 in liaison with the EA, local authorities and other stakeholders Significant reduction Significant reduction Maintain a strategic, long term sewerage plan Reduce to zero Reduce to as near zero as possible Pollution incidents Reduce to less than 50 by 2015 Reduce to zero Sewage litter in water courses Continue to address litter from sewer overflows Stop sewage litter entering water courses Meeting standards for discharges from sewage Zero breaches of consent treatment works standards by 2015 Zero breaches of consent standards River water quality Contribute to further worthwhile Contribute to further worthwhile improvements to river water quality improvements to river water quality Bathing water quality Contribute to all bathing waters in the north east being classified as good or excellent Contribute to all bathing waters in the north east being classified as good or excellent NWL strategy Need to work together with all stakeholders share data resolve conflict identify holistic solutions prioritise innovate
How does NWL strategy align to that of Local Authorities Surface water management conventional approach Surface water management a fresh approach
Surface water management a fresh approach Surface water management a fresh approach SuDS how far have we come? Do water companies support the concept of SuDS? Generally yes as there are benefits to the company, customer and environment but all have concerns about how and who will make it all work. No SUDS meets the legal definition of sewer and as such cannot be adopted by a Sewerage Undertaker. 1 st North East SuDS Conference 2000 The Government should resolve the issue of which organisations should be responsible for the ownership and maintenance of sustainable drainage systems Recommendation 20 The Pitt Review 2007
SuDS how far have we come? Revised Part H of Building Regulations 2000 introduced hierarchy of preference for connection of surface water from development. Suds and soakaways Watercourses Sewer PPS25 Development and Flood Risk promotes use of SuDS. Draft Floods and Water Management Bill suggested at some clarity on surface water management in the future Local Authorities to be SuDS Approval Body and to take ownership of their maintenance. SuDS maintenance to be funded from savings made by transfer of private drains and sewers to Water Companies. Removal of Automatic Right of Connection of surface water to sewerage system. How sustainable are SuDS? Social Sustainable Development. Environmental Economic How sustainable are SuDS - Environmental Habitat Creation Positive impact on biodiversity Less carbon intensive to construct Reduce downstream flood risk change in environmental culture
How sustainable are SuDS - Social Positive feeling of open space Premium paid to to live by water Access to wildlife on doorstep Environmental education and culture But only if well maintained How sustainable are SuDS - Economic Lower capital construction cost Land take may affect housing yield Value of land needs to be factored in. Long term maintenance costs Commuted lump sums? Savings private drains legislation? SuDS what s needed to make them happen. Clarity on who is to be the SuDS Approval Body Consistency of approach with regard to SuDS planning, design, ownership and maintenance. Certainty for the region s developers that any SuDS they incorporate within their developments will be adopted. Collaborative working with all parties involved in surface water management.