South Staffs Water has always taken its responsibility to the environment extremely seriously and has worked closely over a number of years with the Environment Agency to address any adverse impacts its operations might have on nearby environmentally sensitive sites. The Company has embarked on three projects to address such issues over the last 15 years.
Leamonsley Brook.
In the 1980s it was identified that the water levels in the Stowe and Minster Pools in Lichfield were falling. This was causing a great deal of concern to local residents. In 1989 a study by the Environment Agency highlighted Leamonsley Brook as one of the top forty low flow watercourses in England and Wales. The importance of the Brook and the Pools, in terms of conservation, could not be overlooked.
The problem arose due to a lack of water flowing through Leamonsley Brook, the only supply to Stowe and Minster Pools. The Brook, a feature of Beacon Park, could not deliver sufficient flows to the pools while groundwater was being abstracted from its catchment area.
During 1992, whilst looking for a lasting reduction in groundwater abstraction, the Agency, in conjunction with Lichfield District Council, sank an augmentation borehole to pump water out of the aquifer and discharge it directly into the Brook achieving something approaching a natural flow. However, this solution was effectively ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’, taking water from the same aquifer that was causing the problem. It could not be regarded as a permanent solution.
After consultation with the Environment Agency and Lichfield District Council, South Staffs Water agreed to reduce the amount of water it is allowed to abstract from the Lichfield area and sought no financial compensation for doing so. This target reduction was around 20% of total Lichfield abstraction or 6 million litres a day.
A thorough study of all the options available was undertaken. Using a specially designed computer model, the Environment Agency and the Company, looked at five different ways of achieving a reduction in water abstraction from the Lichfield aquifer. It was agreed that the best solution would be to stop pumping water from Hanch Tunnel at Sandfields Pumping Station and to reduce abstraction from two pumping stations near the City, at Pipe Hill and Trent Valley. By far the biggest contribution to the reduction comes from the closure of Sandfields Pimping Station. This was served by Hanch Tunnel, South Staffordshire Water’s first source of water.
These reductions were put in place in September 1997. However, because of the way in which water levels in aquifers react the full benefit of this reduction may not be seem until 2017.
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Hurcott and Podmore Pools SSSI
Blakedown Brook, located approximately 3km north east of Kidderminster, forms part of a network of locally important wet woodland habitats that ultimately feed Hurcott and Podmore Pools Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), This site received its national conservation designation because of its importance for many bird species. It is also the largest single Alder wood habitat in the county of Worcestershire.
Unfortunately, over recent years, water levels in the brook have receded, prompting investigative research by the Environment Agency under the National Environment Programme: a list of sites requiring remedial action to be taken by water companies to mitigate the impacts of their operations.
The site falls within a heavily abstracted aquifer area with a number of groundwater pumping stations near it. The long-term solution was to reduce abstraction from the area to assist natural recovery of surface water flows.
The Environment Agency had developed a computer model of the groundwater of the West Midlands area and this was used to help identify the best location for reductions in abstraction. South Staffs Water agreed to reduce abstraction from two of its pumping stations, Hagley and Churchill, by 6.5 million litres of water a day. This included an additional voluntary reduction of 1.5 million litres a day on top of the minimum reduction of 5 million litres a day requested by the Environment Agency. This reduction was implemented on 1st April 2001. The benefit of the reductions will not be fully evident for a number of years as the aquifer will take some time to react to the reduction in abstraction.
In the meantime, the flows to the brook need to be augmented. Therefore, in addition to the reduction in abstraction, the Company has also funded and project managed the construction of an augmentation borehole to abstract water from the aquifer to place directly into the surface watercourses which feed the SSSI. Work on the borehole was completed in 2005.
The Environment Agency are currently investigating ways in which the borehole should be operated to ensure maximum benefit for the SSSI and the surrounding watercourses. It may be some time before the full benefit of the borehole is evident at Hurcott and Podmore Pools SSSI. However, in the meantime, other parts of the network of brooks and ponds have seen a significant benefit. In particular, Windmill Pool, a previously dry pond, has been restored.
This project has only been possible through the partnership approach adopted by the parties involved: South Staffs Water, the Environment Agency and the local landowners.
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Checkhill Bogs SSSI
As part of the National Environment Programme the Company was obliged to investigate potential impacts from groundwater abstraction in the Stour and Smestow Valley area of Worcestershire. In 2003 the Company employed consultants to study the areas and identify any environmentally sensitive sites suffering from low flows associated with groundwater abstraction. Only one site was identified as requiring action: Checkhill Bogs Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Checkhil Bogs SSSI consists of three areas of wet woodland along the course of Spittle Brook. It is dependant on a constant water supply from the brook to maintain the wet soil conditions that range from permanently moist to usually waterlogged. The site represents mature, secondary woodland of a type that is nationally much reduced and under threat. The citation also lists a wide variety of flora. The site now suffers from a lack of flow in the lower bog.
The long-term solution is likely to be a reduction in abstraction from adjacent groundwater sources together with a medium-term solution of an augmentation borehole to support flows until the aquifer levels recover sufficiently to support the site naturally.
In order to determine the most effective location for reductions in abstraction and the best location for an augmentation borehole flow gauging data is required throughout the site and the supporting watercourses. Therefore, the Company has been undertaking monthly stream gauging since April 2005. It is important to obtain a long flow record to fully understand how the surface watercourses react to changes and therefore stream gauging is likely to continue for a further four years.
In the meantime, options for borehole location and abstraction reductions will be appraised with a view to full implementation by 2009.
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Habitat Management
In addition to fulfilling our obligations to minimise the impact of our operations, we also look for opportunities to develop new habitats within our landholdings. The development of a wild meadow at our Blithfield site is an example of this.
Wild Meadow Development
Following consultation with Natural England the Company entered into a Countryside Stewardship scheme with one of its tenant farmers. The scheme involved provision for the conversion of 5-acres of arable land to a wildflower meadow. The purpose for this was three-fold. Firstly, it would help to enhance biodiversity. Secondly, it would afford greater educational opportunities at the Company's nearby Blithfield Education Centre, and thirdly, it would provide a wonderfully picturesque landscape, further enhancing the amenity value of the area.
The field was sown with a crop during 2002, which was harvested in the autumn. However, in preparation for the development of the wildflower meadow the crop was grown without the use of fertiliser, to reduce the nutrient index of the soil. Discussions took place with other tenant farmers and an agreement was reached that would allow adequate grazing of the field at the appropriate times of the year. This agreement formed part of the management plan for the Blithfield Reservoir estate.
In early 2003, the 5-acre field was sown by the tenant farmer with a wildflower seed mix. The first signs of life showed through at the latter part of April as cornflower shoots started to emerge. By mid May the cornflowers had flowered to provide a wonderful, blue hue across the entire field. This change was accompanied by a noticeable difference in the number and range of insect species, with butterflies emerging in abundance. The project was promising to offer blanket coverage of wildflowers across the entire 5-acre site.
By mid June the next host of developing flowers had emerged with an abundance of wild poppies bursting into flower to provide a sea of red amongst the blue hue of the cornflowers. Other flowers also developed including oxide daisy, to provide a natural display of vibrant colour that was nothing short of breathtaking.
The wildflower meadow was truly an awe inspiring sight and attracted interest from a wide range of people including local residents, the Wildlife Trust, and local photographers. Many commented on the noticeable increase in insect and bird life on and around the meadow.
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Woodland Management
Blithfield Reservoir is not only one of our key water sources but is also our largest Site of Special Scientific Interest, (SSSI). We manage the site very carefully to ensure an appropriate balance of interest is maintained between its primary purpose as a water source, its use as a recreational facility, and its importance as an environmentally sensitive habitat. A significant part of this habitat is the 205 acres of woodland that surround the reservoir and these are the subject of a five-year strategic management plan that is designed to maximise the environmental and educational potential of the site. The plan includes woodland management initiatives such as thinning, ride management, and the control of invasive species such as bracken and rhododendron. It also encourages the natural regeneration of native tree species such as oak and birch and the redevelopment of the shrub layer, (e.g. hazel, holly), and ground layer, (e.g. bluebells, grasses).
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