We own and run nearly 700 water and wastewater treatment works and nearly 200 reservoirs, as well as hundreds of smaller sites such as service reservoirs and pumping stations.
Biodiversity has not traditionally been part of the standard operation of these operational sites. However, we are conscious that many of our sites harbour wildlife. During 2009 we piloted an innovative approach to managing biodiversity at six operational sites in our water business, including two water treatment works, an impounding reservoir, one active and one inactive wastewater treatment works and our Warrington headquarters site.
In accordance with our duty to protect and enhance biodiversity under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act, our landscape and ecology team carried out detailed surveys to evaluate biodiversity value and assess its sustainability. The team used an assessment tool called ECOCHEC (Evaluation of Components of High Ecological Concern). This tool enables us to incorporate biodiversity management in site management and maintenance plans.
Implementation of the action plans is ongoing on the pilot sites, with actions including:
- implementing biodiversity-sensitive grounds-keeping regimes
- controlling invasive species
- restoring habitat suitable for breeding wading birds
- establishing wild flower meadows
- erecting nest boxes
- clearing scrub
- improving breeding ponds for great crested newts
Based on the success of these pilot activities, we have secured regulatory funding to extend our programme to a further 16 operational water sites over the next 5 years.
In selecting sites for inclusion in the programme due weight has been given to sites:
- where biodiversity has high potential to impact on - or be impacted by - site operations or plans
- most likely to require biodiversity management
- with greatest biodiversity potential
In the programme, we aim to demonstrate the benefits of embedding proactive biodiversity management into the management, operation and maintenance of our sites, so making biodiversity considerations business as usual.
We surveyed the 16 sites throughout summer 2010 and assessed their current biodiversity status and the potential to protect and/or improve biodiversity value.
Using our ECOCHEC tool allows us to baseline current state, assess improvements and undertake long-term monitoring against the 2010 International Year of Biodversity (IYB) baseline.