Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change Adaptation

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced leakage by half since 1994-95
• Achieved a fall in the number of odour complaints related to wastewater assets
• Extended catchment management methods to protect water sources at eight sites in relation to nitrates and two sites in relation to pesticides
• Completed the development of a more integrated water supply grid
• Reduced leakage and supply interruptions through a combination of mains replacements and smarter network operation
• Saved 3.3 Ml/d through water efficiency promotion in 2019-20

Social Achievements

• Over 20,000 Home Check visits in customer homes
• Distributed free water saving devices packs to customer homes
• Worked with schools and businesses to support water demand reductions
• Launched GetWaterFit – a digital water use calculator tool

Governance Achievements

• Updated drought plan in 2017
• Published updated Water Resources Management Plan in 2019
• Developed an Emergency Tactical Planning Group
• Strengthened working relationships with local resilience forums

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Increased daily and peak demand for water during warmer months
• Risk of reduced or removed abstraction licenses due to dry conditions
• Shorter groundwater recharge periods leading to reduced yields
• Lower reservoir yields affecting security of supply
• Political pressure to prioritize essential water use
• Lower groundwater yields and low river flows resulting in reduced or removed abstraction licenses
• Extreme freeze-thaw events leading to increased leakage and pipe bursts
• Drought and heatwaves increasing demand
• Heavy rainfall overwhelming combined sewers and sewerage pumps
• Sewer blockages due to customer misuse
• Increased infiltration of groundwater into sewers
• Spills affecting watercourses and bathing waters
• Increased volumes to be pumped, accelerating asset deterioration
• Flooding of sewerage assets leading to potential failures
• Increased risk of spoiling sludge stockpiles
• Warmer temperatures increasing odour and pest risks at water recycling centers and sludge sites
• Increased seasonal demand for sewage treatment
• Increased odour complaints linked to water recycling centers
• Lower flows in sewers leading to sedimentation and blockages
• Flooding of operational sites from rivers or runoff
• Impacts on power supplies, submersion of electrical assets, and impaired transport routes
• Cascading failures from interdependent infrastructure networks
• Pressures on the natural environment from climate change (less summer rainfall, heatwaves, more intense rainfall, changing pests and crops, invasive species)

Mitigation Strategies

• Alternative or relocated water sources
• Altering existing assets to optimize resource use
• Updated drought plan (2017)
• Updated Water Resources Management Plan (2019)
• Developing a regional plan for water resilience
• Adopting new monitoring technologies
• Continued replacement of older mains
• Adopting new and innovative technologies to enhance network operation
• Continued engagement with customers to deliver water efficiency targets
• Digital water use calculator tool
• Building understanding of customer behaviors
• Enhancing Home Check service
• Exploring collaborative working with water retailers
• Modelling flows and water quality, water safety plans
• Water network service plan
• Water Safety Plans at all supply sites
• Integrated water supply grid
• Reservoir inspections and desilting
• Continuous monitoring
• Catchment management
• Reconfiguring Durleigh water treatment centre
• Extending catchment management work
• Further action against rising nitrates and pesticides
• Infiltration reduction plans
• Odour management plans
• Modelling sewer catchments
• Flood alleviation schemes
• Separation of surface water and foul sewers
• Sustainable drainage solutions
• Installation of spill monitors at storm overflows
• Improvements at storm overflows
• Reducing groundwater infiltration
• Sewer maintenance
• Collaborative work with Lead Local Flood Authorities
• Developing infiltration reduction plans
• Collaborative catchment management work
• Flood risk assessments
• Response & recovery plans
• Developing working practices for extreme weather
• Local infrastructure solutions (bunding, flap valves, alarms, drainage improvements)
• Monitoring vulnerability of sites
• Adapted working practices for health and safety
• Energy self-sufficiency at key sites
• Business continuity arrangements and emergency planning
• Regular review of business continuity arrangements
• Adverse Weather Continuity Plans
• Back-up electricity generators
• Implemented staff risk assessments for working in adverse weather
• Environmental investigations
• Developing a routemap to net zero carbon emissions
• Delivering improvements to the water environment
• Pioneering market-based methods for environmental delivery
• Investment in renewable energy
• Promotion of outcome-based environmental regulation
• Expansion of market-based approaches
• Supporting projects through Biodiversity Action Plan Partners Programme
• Working towards net zero operational emissions by 2030

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Drought
• Heatwaves
• Intense rainfall
• Flooding
• Coastal erosion
• Groundwater infiltration
• Algal blooms
• Extreme cold

Transition Risks

• Regulatory changes
• Changes in customer expectations
• Changes in end-of-pipe standards

Opportunities

• Development of energy-efficient products and services
• Nature-based solutions
• Catchment markets

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Defra’s adaptation reporting power