Moving water around the UK
is part of the solution
Water Industry Forum
15th Oct
David Essex
General Manager - Water Strategy & Innovation Severn Trent Water
The problem is clear
• more variable weather
• more people living in UK
The South East is facing supply demand deficits in
the order of 850 Ml/d by 2040
• Normal year - there is enough water until 2035 using existing supplies
• However in a dry year there are deficits up to 550Ml/d (Dry Year Annual
Average) ~ 3.3 m people
• In the critical 3 months in summer, there is a substantial deficit of up to 850 Ml/d (Dry Year Critical Period) ~ 5.6m people
− During these periods, cannot rely on raw water being available in rivers.
3 Moving water around the UK is part of the solution – D Essex, STW In South East
South East deficits
We need to reduce demand AND secure other
sources of supply
Flexible and adaptable solutions to deal with whatever the future brings
•
Demand side
− Use less − Waste less
− Reuse where possible
•
Supply Side
− Mixture of sources − Grab it when its there − Store it
− Move it to where we need it
We need ALL of the ABOVE
We have a credible demand side plan
Severn Trent already have the lowest distribution input per customer
• Drive resource efficiency even lower
− Further reduce leakage
• total and response times • current record low levels • 17% reduction 2010-2020
− Further improve water efficiency
• STW largest volume & lowest unit cost in industry • Physical modifications - devices
• Behaviours - Education, • Meters- means to an end
• Use non-potable where possible
− Innovation in Reuse - Grey water / Rainwater Harvesting
• Severn Trent Centre • Coventry school – RWH • Birmingham Big Water Plan
• Innovation workshop – supply chain • Research Fellowship & Eng D - Exeter
Recent weather patterns have highlighted the
variability and uncertainty in weather
• Adapting our supply systems to be able to cope with unexpected shocks
− Periods of drought
− Severe cold / hot weather − Severe rainfall or wind
• Loss of major assets - power or sites themselves
− Loss of production or distribution systems
• Major landslips aqueduct / pipeline damage • Large volumes of bursts
− Security threats
Being resilient to future risks
Droughts 2010 2011 2012
It will be important to have flexible and adaptable
supply side options
Being able to adapt to changes in seasonal and geographic locations
7 Moving water around the UK is part of the solution – D Essex, STW
• Both surface water and ground water • Ability to grab water when it is available
across seasons
• Storage in existing impounding reservoirs • New storage underground / above ground • Ability to transfer bulk supplies across
regional boundaries
Trading needs to be part of the suite of options available in the future
Any trading option needs to be cost effective
• Each water company has looked at the options for additional supply in the future • If a trading option can beat the next best
cost – then it should be seriously considered
• Long life assets
Draft Water Resources Management Plans
Volume (Ml/d) Demand
Management
London – preferred options
- 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 - 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 A IS C ( p /m 3 ) Demand Management Effluent re-use
Source: Thames Water draft WRMP Target price
Our PR14 plan includes a number of cost effective
trading options for bulk raw water
Commercial discussions are ongoing
9 Banbury Milton Keynes Severn Trent Thames Affinity Draycote Reservoir
Moving water around the UK is part of the solution – D Essex, STW
• Relatively short pipeline
• Move raw water between river basins • Volume 200-300 Ml/d ~1.5 m people • Other potential beneficiaries
There are a number of potential barriers that will need to be
overcome
• Willingness to “contract out” peak water resources
• Ability to deliver contract volumes reliably when needed
• Loss of raw water along the way
• Environmental concerns
Mindset by companies to make the market work for benefit of customers
Regulator support & robust contracts
Abstraction controls – current and reformed
• Part of a sensible balance of demand and supply side options • Part of a portfolio of supply side choices
• Flexible and adaptable for uncertain future
As long as it is cost effective, available when needed and viable
11 Moving water around the UK is part of the solution – D Essex, STW