‘Upstream Thinking’ – developinginto WFD delivery and PES

Martin Ross, Environmental Manager

Reducing WFD costs through PESLeeds, Wednesday 9 May 2012

Content

1. Meeting WFD in South West uplands

2. Some practical examples

3. PES and the economic case

4. Knowledge sharing

1. Meeting WFD in South West Uplands

Strategic mains and river transfers

93% upland/surface derived resources

Land

Wildlife

Water

The Upstream Thinking concept

2. Some practical examples

Exmoor: water, peat and soil loss.

Nine-year colour trend from Dartmoor

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5

10

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12/09/200100:00

12/09/200200:00

12/09/200300:00

12/09/200400:00

12/09/200500:00

12/09/200600:00

12/09/200700:00

12/09/200800:00

12/09/200900:00

12/09/201000:00

Co

lou

ras

Hazen

DATE

Fernworthy Reservoir (Tottiford WTW) Raw Water colour

Moorland indicators of global warming

2,000ha to improve 3,000ha SSSI** Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Steady water release in droughts & floods

Employee and volunteer involvement

Moss and sphagnum recovery

Exmoor 2011/12 report - indicators

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50

100

150

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250

300

2006 2011

Bog (positive) indicators Drosera rotundifolia

Erica tetralix

Nartheciumossifragum

Polygala serpyllifolia

Juncus bulbosus

Carex echinata

Carex panicea

Eriophorumvaginatum

Aulacomniumpalustre

Sphagnumcapillifolium

Sphagnumcuspidatum

Sphagnumpapillosum

Sphagnum tenellum 0

100

200

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600

2006 2011

Dry (negative) indicators

Callunavulgaris

Galium saxatile

Potentillaerecta

Vacciniummyrtillus

Festuca spp

Moliniacaerulea

Juncussquarrosus

Luzulamultiflora

Pleuroziumschreberi

Deschampsiaflexuosa

Technology Strategy Board’s KEP

Upland research – flow and colour

Innovation – radically cheaper surveys

3. PES and the economic case

Support £40m/yr or £40m to resolve?

‘The Polluter Pays’ (???)

‘The Providergets Paid’

Financial priorities

1. Benefit:cost could be 65:1 by delayingwater treatment upgrades

2. 20% water treatment opex saving

3. Innovative financial, legal and taxtreatments to benefit all parties

4. Strong financial control over project costs

5. Paid Ecosystem Services discussions toencourage ‘farming cleaner water’

Valuation of open moorland alternatives

Carbon capture/storage to be traded?

Renewable yield up as a further PES

Avoided flooding – another PES?

PES as capital grants and revenue

4. Knowledge sharing

Upland Hydrology Group, visits/meetings

PES from 2015

1. Develop PES projects from UpstreamThinking funded by Ofwat at PR09

2. Identify local expertise willing to provide thePESs and a basis for contracts

3. Develop regulator/company/third sectorconsensus on viable PES rewardsassociated with specific projects

4. Develop into cost beneficial plans for PR14

Finally, aspecialthank youfrom ourbeneficiaries