Background

The Environment Agency of England & Wales issues abstraction licenses to individuals and organisations, which authorise the abstraction of a given volume of water, with conditions aimed at protecting the environment and other abstractors’ needs.

This legislative framework dates back to the 1960s. drought during the mid-nineties resulted in the 1997 Water Summit, producing a 10-point plan on improving water Management.

The review led to the publication in 1999 of ‘Taking Water Responsibly’. This signaled important changes including:

The Environment Agency’s National Water Resources Strategy – ‘Water Resources for the Future – A Strategy for England and Wales’

• Water Company Drought Plans

• All new licenses to be time-limited

• Catchments Abstraction Management Strategies

The Water Act was the final element of the Government’s strategy to modernise the regulatory framework in England & Wales, the Act heralded a new era in the management and regulation of water resources. It aimed to provide a modern, efficient and robust legislative framework to facilitate both sustainable water resources management and economic growth through the new provisions it contains.

The Environment Agency is the leading public agency for protection and improvement of the air, land and water environment In England and Wales. Within this broad remit they are responsible for strategic water resources planning and the management of water resources through the abstraction licensing system. The Agency has been responsible for implementing many of the provisions of the Act.

Key Features of the Water Act affecting Groundwater

• All small abstractions, under 20 m³/d, are licence exempt.

Dewatering of mines, quarries and engineering works, use of water for trickle irrigation and abstractions in areas currently exempt will need a licence. The transfer of water for navigation will also need a licence.

• Three licence categories - full, transfer and temporary (replacing the single licence used previously).

• The licence application process has been simplified, with the Environment Agency taking on more of the responsibility.

All abstractors have responsibility not to let their abstraction cause damage to others. Damaging licences can be amended or revoked without compensation after 2012. Unused licences may be revoked without compensation.

• Water companies and the public sector have a duty to promote water conservation. The Government will monitor performance.

• Water Companies are required by law to develop, consult upon and publish water resource management and drought plans.

• The Act opens up the market for supplying water to industrial/commercial customers with water supplies of greater than 50 Ml/a.

• The Act places the pollution control function of The Coal Authority on a statutory basis and provides them with a number of statutory powers in pursuing these functions

Implementation of the Water Act

The Act introduces many varied and complex provisions. As with most modern statutes, these provisions do not all come into effect immediately.

Commencement Orders are required, which will be promoted by the Department for Environment Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) at an appropriate time to ensure an orderly introduction of the new measures.

Different Commencement dates were applied to the different provisions outlined above, which have been progressively implemented and continue to be implemented, since 2003,

In brief the changes in the water regulations, and the simplification of regulation, coupled with the non requirement of an extraction licence for individuals or organisations wishing to use less then 20,000 liters per day means that for most it is now far more cost effective to draw your own water from a boar hole, even with the cost of Ultraviolet steriliser systems, Water softeners, and commercial water treatment equipment (Filters) payback is often only between 2-4 years, thereafter huge financial benefits can be gained.

How Ultraviolet Filtration Works

Ultraviolet or UV energy is found in the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and x-rays and can be best described as invisible radiation.

In order to kill microorganisms, the UV rays must actually strike the cell. UV energy penetrates the outer cell membrane, passes through the cell body and disrupts its DA preventing reproduction. The water should be clear and free from particles. The use of a pre-filter is recommended, UV treatment does not alter water chemically; nothing is added except energy.

The degree of disinfection by Ultraviolet radiation is directly related to the UV dose applied to the water. The dosage, a product of UV light intensity and exposure time, is measured in mill joule per square centimeter(mJ/cm2). Most UV units are designed to provide a dosage greater than 30mJ/cm2 after one year of continuous operation.

In order for us to be able to offer a guaranteed result we will require a water analysis, details of application and pipe sizes and/or flowrates. 

The Filtration treatments required often include:

• Turbidity reduction – sediment, sand, etc
• Organics and colour removal
• Bacteria, viruses – e-coli, coliforms, etc
• Re-oxygentating – for removal of carbon dioxide (CO²) and hydrogen sulphide (H²SO³)
• PH correction
• Hardness reduction – normally where water is derived from chalky areas
• Iron and manganese reduction
• Nitrate reduction – common in heavy agricultural areas
• 
  

Whilst this may seem a long list (not all will usually apply) we can offer multi-media units to solve a number of problems within one unit.

As it is often the case that these units are installed in remote areas, and Heffalump would be pleased to quote for installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance.

Heffalump can provide expert drillers, Ultraviolet and Filtration equipment that is made individually for your requirements, and all the plumbing experience and know-how to help install your water supply. With an average small commercial pool spending around £12,000 a year, and with prices continuously rising, why not let us look into the logistics of supplying you or your organisation with it’s water requirements.

Water Extraction