Agenda item

(1)     The report set out KCC’s work regarding water resources management. It explained the outcomes of the Kent Water Summit held in June 2012, the development of the Kent Water Resilience Framework and processes through which KCC was able to influence the local water companies. The purpose of the report was to bring the work to the attention of the Committee and to seek support for its future direction.

(2)     During 2012, KCC had been leading two initiatives concerned with improved water management – the Kent Water Summit and the Kent Water Resilience Framework. Both initiatives had produced important outputs and there were now opportunities over the coming months to ensure that they were impressed upon the Kent water companies as they prepared their long term plans for managing water resources.

(a)          The Kent Water Summit

KCC held a water summit on 26 June 2012 which attracted over 90 representatives from a wide range of organisations.  Discussion was synthesised into the following recommendations:

• More rapid introduction of domestic water metering to conserve water.

• Greater understanding of the true value of water through a public awareness campaign.

• Wastewater reuse to be considered more seriously as a potential solution to improving water supplies.

• Increased efficiency in both domestic and agricultural water use.

• Further expansion of facilities for on-farm water storage.

• Greater leadership and enhanced co-operation to deliver technological innovation in water conservation.

• A drive to cut out all forms of water wastage.

Good progress had been made in following up the recommendations but several also needed to be promoted through KCC’s influence in the water industry planning process.

(b)          The Kent Water Resilience Framework (WRF)

The WRF was an activity within the Kent Environment Strategy (KES) and contributed to delivery of Action CC 6.1 ‘To develop and deliver risk-based action plans for the top ‘climate risk’ priorities in Kent’. It was being developed in partnership with the Environment Agency.

The WRF would need to be reviewed at intervals to ensure that it continued to use the best available data and focus on the correct issues and locations.

(c)          The water industry planning process

Water companies produced new Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs) every 5 years. Each WRMP covered a 25 year time period on a rolling basis.

The companies would all produce their draft WRMPs in late April / early May 2013 and would be followed by a formal consultation period after which each company would produce its Statement of Response, make any revisions and publish the final plan in early 2014.

(d)          The proposed focus for KCC influence

Drawing on the recommendations from the Kent Water Summit and the findings from the Kent Water Resilience Framework, there were three key areas of work that it was suggested KCC should now be emphasising with all the local water companies:

·demand management;

·wastewater re-use; and

·catchment management.

(3)     RESOLVED that:-

(a)          the programmes of work described in the report and the resulting recommendations and findings, be noted; and

(b)          the particular emphasis on water demand management, wastewater re-use and catchment management within KCC’s ongoing engagement with water companies and within pending consultation processes, be supported.