Water UK

Economics

Unlike gas and electricity, water is heavy. Indeed, the average family of four uses water weighing about two-thirds of a tonne each day. Transporting it over large distances would require major engineering work and pumping operations that would consume large amounts of expensive energy.

Water is also relatively cheap. Crude oil costs around £214 per cubic metre, making it worthwhile to move oil over long distances. At around 80p per cubic metre, however, moving water over even greater distances would mean a significant increase in costs and higher customer bills.

Environment

The value of a national grid is also questioned on environmental grounds.

First, it is true that some parts of the country have more available water than others, but nowhere is immune from drought. Some parts of Wales and the Midlands have below average levels and the most recent serious water shortage and hosepipe bans were in Dundee. Given the uncertainty of the weather it would be wrong to assume that any area has 'excess' water.

Second, transferring large volumes of water away from an area is likely to cause big changes in the local ecology, changes that many would see as damaging to flora and fauna. Far better is to work with nature, which means where possible confining bulk movements of water within individual river catchments.

The fact is that river catchments and the human settlements that from time immemorial have grown around water sources all have their own characteristics. To put it crudely, the Lake District is the Lake District because of the beautiful benefits nature bestowed on it. From every point of view – ecological, economic, recreational, even poetic – it would be foolhardy to interfere with this unless absolutely necessary.

Third, transferring large volumes of water into an area could also pose problems for the local ecology. As is well known, the chemical composition of water varies in different parts of the country and the potential effect on habitats and species would be significant.

Fourth, the effect on the environment of construction and engineering work associated with the development of national water pipelines is likely to be serious.

River catchments

Water companies already move water extensively within regions and river catchments to keep the water flowing when the local supply is affected, for example by shortage of rain or a burst main.

In recent years companies have invested heavily in better connections between their own supply zones and also in cooperation with neighbouring companies where cross-boundary connections are the most cost-effective way to secure supplies for all. Contiguous companies also work closely together with the Environment Agency in planning long-term enhancement of supplies. For example, plans to construct new, or raise existing, reservoirs are made in the light of the regional picture even though one company will take the lead in developing the project.

Sustainability

Water UK believes that through a combination of medium- and long-term measures adequate water resources can be available to meet society's needs within environmental limits. What is needed is agreement between stakeholders that all have a part to play in deciding and implementing sustainable water policy. No single group – the government, for example, or the water companies – can alone ensure security of supply because there is no single 'magic bullet' solution.

If we accept the arguments advanced by the Environment Agency and water companies for a 'twin track' approach to resources management – reducing demand and enhancing supply within regions – we have the building blocks for a sustainable long-term strategy without the incurring the major expense and environmental upheaval of a national grid. However, to achieve this it is essential that development planning and water resources planning are properly coordinated.

Bruce Horton
Policy Adviser
020 7344 1817

Barrie Clarke
Director of Communication
020 7344 1804