Water Under Pressure – The Challenges in Eastern Region

Dr Charles Beardall

Eastern Area Manager,

Environment Agency

Water Under Pressure - The Challenges in Eastern Region

Setting the Scene

The Challenges

The Future

Setting the Scene – The Eastern Region -AONBs, the Broads, Environmental sites

Setting the Scene – Sources of Water

mm

Setting the Scene – Sources of Groundwater

Chalk- regional principle aquifer

Crag - locally significant in Suffolk and Norfolk

River terrace gravels - locally significant in Essex

Ely Ouse to Essex Water Transfer

Water Resources – Who uses the water ?

Over 4500 licences in Eastern Region

60 % abstracted from surface waters (rivers), 40% groundwaters

Distribution of Water Licences

62%11%

23%

4%Public WaterSupply

Agriculture

Industry/ PowerGenerated

Other

Setting the Scene - Water Availability

Setting the Scene – Water Framework Directive

Prepared by Integrated Environment Planning© Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey 100024198© Environment Agency copyright and/or database rights 2013. All rights reserved.

¯0 8 16 24km

2012 Overall Status

Poor

Bad

WFD rivers

Challenges – Climate Change

hotter, drier summers

warmer, wetter winters

extreme weather events

rising sea-level

Breaches in Walberswick ridge 2007 Storm surge

DroughtLow flowsCoastal Erosion

Flooding

Challenges –Growth and public water supply

Challenges - Agriculture

Hose-reel gun irrigation

Challenges – The Coast and sea level rise

Shoreline Management Plan policies identify where change is most likely to happen (see map)

Walberswick shingle ridge – 2007 tidal surge

Miinsmere nature reserve – Adapting to sea level rise

Broadland Flood Aleviation Project

Future Solutions

Water Framework Directive ‘Challenges and Choices’ Regional Consultations

Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies

Restoring Sustainable Abstraction

Public Water Supply – Water Resource Management Plans, Demand management, Water Resources East Anglia

Adapting Agriculture and storing water.

Water Bill – Licencing Reform

Partnership Working – Deben Catchment Pilot Holistic Water Management