Welsh Water received Direction to publish this Draft Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP) on 15/01/09 from the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). The Draft WRMP is consistent with the one we submitted to WAG, Office of Water Services (Ofwat), Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Environment Agency Wales (EAW) in March 2008. It is a requirement of our Direction that we publish the March 2008 Plan.

Chapter 5 of this Plan details the understanding of our position under the Habitats Review of Consents at that time. Welsh Water has continued to work closely with EAW to understand the implications of their ongoing ‘Review of Consents’ process upon our abstraction licences across Wales. Since the submission in March 2008, we have received more data arising from EAW investigations and subsequent to this EAW has provided proposals for changes in our abstraction licences. These proposals have significant implications for the operation of our water resources, on three rivers in particular: the Wye (and its tributaries), the Usk and the Cleddau.

Changes to abstraction licences in the rivers Wye, Usk and Cleddau have the potential to impact the supply demand balances in only three of the twenty-four zones represented in this Plan: the South East Wales Conjunctive Use System (SEWCUS), Pilleth (due to proposals on the River Lugg, a tributary of the Wye) and Pembrokeshire. The changes proposed by EA Wales are contained within the ‘National Environment Plan’. In addition, we have continued to develop supply demand balances as detailed clearly in our ‘Further Work to Do‘ section. These studies will be incorporated, along with consideration of any representation we receive on the draft plan, within our Final Water Resources Management Plan.

We have assessed the potential impact from the licence reductions identified within the ‘National Environment Plan’ to our supply and the type of solutions which may be required to resolve the deficit as a result. The table below summarises this impact and the solutions that are likely to be required to restore the required supply-demand balance. These schemes do not form part of this Draft WRMP as we were not formally notified of the proposals from the EAW until November 2008.

Welsh Water is very keen to consult with our customers and stakeholders at this stage as part of the process and development of our Final WRMP. Although there is the potential for changes within these three zones, there still remains a requirement to continue water resource investment and secure supply across the whole of Wales. As such we present a draft WRMP for Wales, the majority of which will be unaffected by the changes proposed by Environment Agency Wales.

It is our intention to include the impact of sustainability reductions within the Final WRMP, along with consideration of any representations received as part of this consultation process. The options are indicative at this stage. We continue to develop and refine these investigations working with WAG, Ofwat and the EAW to ensure appropriate investment for the environment and customers of Wales.

Click to download our Water Resource Management Plan