Water
Indicator WR1 - Water consumption
The South East of England experienced the driest 11 month period (November 2004 - September 2005) for more than a quarter of a century. This put pressure on water resources resulting in hosepipe bans. Three Valleys Water (the main supplier of water in Hertfordshire) managed to avoid hosepipe bans but was particularly challenged in some areas when the temperatures headed towards the thirties and the company saw demand for water reaching its highest levels ever.
Hertfordshire Domestic Water Consumption
(litres per person per day)
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Historical data shows that today we use twice as much water as our grandparents used to. With the increasing levels of water-consuming goods such as power showers and leisure pools it is time for us to reverse this upward trend for a more sustainable future. Studies have shown that customers on a water meter use between 10 - 15% less water than those who are un-metered. This year Three Valleys Water installed 21,163 water meters and plan to increase the level of metering from 20% to 43% by 2010. Overall levels of water consumption in the county of Hertfordshire remain above the national average. The figure for 2004/05 of 182 litres per head per day compares favourably against the previous year's 191 litres per head per day and represents an overall decrease of around 5%. However, this was predominantly weather driven as summer conditions in 2003 drove demand to record levels for the company. Metered customers used 162 litres per head per day during the same period representing a saving of 11% volume over the unmetered customer base.
Three Valleys Water has been working in partnership with all local authorities within Hertfordshire to promote water conservation to both their staff and residents. This work will be developed further over the next year. In addition, Three Valleys Water has worked with the University of Hertfordshire on a water efficiency campaign to capture the imagination of the University's 22,000 students. Modern, trendy communications were used to encourage students to make small changes in water use behaviour such as a taking a short, sharp shower instead of a bath and turning off the tap when cleaning their teeth. The company was invited to showcase this work at the launch of 'waterwise' at the House of Commons, a new industry-supported NGO (non-government organisation) set up to promote improved water efficiency.
Three Valleys Water is working hard to reduce its leakage levels investing around £15 million each year on finding and fixing leaks. In addition the company is spending £140 million over the next five years to replace the oldest parts of the water distribution network.
Indicator WR2 - River Quality
Water chemistry quality results for rivers in Hertfordshire 1995-2004, are shown in the graph below.
River Quality
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The 2004 results show that river quality in Hertfordshire has improved on the results from the previous period, in contrast to the Thames region totals that show a slight decline from 2003. 67.2% of river length in Hertfordshire is now achieving 'very good' or 'good' quality. This compares to the average for England and Wales of 65%. These results indicate an improvement from 2001/2003 (63%), but still not as high as the 2000/2002 result of 77.8%. A further 27.9% of river length is achieving 'fairly good' or 'fair' quality, an increase from the previous years value of 30.2% but shows slippage from the 'very good' and 'good' brackets. A total of 95.1% of river length in Hertfordshire is of good or fair quality (Grades A, B, C and D), showing no change from the last period. 4.9% of river length is classified as 'poor', with only a 0.1% drop from the previous period. No rivers are classified as 'bad'.
Indicator WR3 - River Quality Objectives
The length of rivers in Hertfordshire that passed and failed river quality objectives for specific ecosystems in 2002/04 are shown in the graph below:
Compliance with river quality objectives in 2002-2004
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River Ecosystem Type (RE)
RE1 - very good quality
RE2 - good quality
RE3 - fair quality suitable for all fish species
RE4 - fair quality suitable for coarse fish
populations
RE5 - poor quality likely to limit coarse fish
populations
5.93% of river length in Hertfordshire failed to achieve its RQO in 2004, an increase on the 5.8% of 2003. 85.3% of river length in Hertfordshire passed the RQO compliance in 2004, a decline from the 89% passing in 2003 - this is due to an increase in the % of river length achieving a marginal result (5.2% in 2003 compared to 8.8% in 2004). All of RQO failures in Hertfordshire occur on stretches of the Grand Union Canal. The slowrunning nature of canals can exacerbate water quality problems. A turbulent, fast flowing river will mix pollutants quickly and absorb oxygen from the water surface. This oxygen helps breakdown organic material in the river. This 'self-purification' is not as rapid in sluggish canals. Also, if nutrient levels are high in a slow moving channel, conditions can be ideal for encouraging the growth of algae, potentially leading to severe oxygen depletion in the water at night-time. This is a common problem in the rivers and canals of East Anglia and the South East of England.
Implications of the Water Framework Directive The Water Framework Directive (WFD) will change how we assess waterways, examining a far broader set of criteria. Monitoring will be 'risk' based, with monitoring targeted at those water bodies at risk of failing the WFD objectives. The quality of more types of water is required to be measured, so lakes, coasts and groundwater will now be included. In the future, fish numbers and varieties, the invertebrates they feed on, the range of aquatic plants and habitats in lakes, coastal waters and rivers will be monitored. Flow rates and water quantity will also be incorporated. The analysis of surface water quality will be broadened and groundwater will be subject to specific objectives for cleanliness. The risks associated with human activity are also considered, these include some 20 pressures, including the effects of abstraction, effluent discharges from industry and physical alterations such as flood defences.