Archived press release

BRONTE COUNTRY RISKS BEING HIGH AND DRY

18 September 1996

The environmentalists, from 54 different countries were visiting the Pennines as part of the Friends of the Earth International conference, taking place in Leeds over the past few days.The delegates spelt out the letters with white umbrellas on the slopes of the moors. Friends of the Earth today published a report questioning the ability of water companies to meet our future needs without threatening supplies for people and the environment. The report, Environmental Assessment of Drought Orders, [1] is based on a FoE study of drought order applications made by Yorkshire Water over the past two years.

As climate change threatens to bring more frequent droughts to the UK [2], the FoE report shows that water companies are increasing the risk by failing to carry out proper environmental assessments of additional water abstraction. The investigation shows that water companies such as Yorkshire Water have obtained up to a fifth of their supplies through drought orders with little knowledge of their environmental impact.

Recent research from the Government's official wildlife agency, English Nature, indicates that the internationally important South Pennine Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI) and Special Protection Area (SPA) is at "High Risk" of damage if Yorkshire Water takes more water from the site. Birds such as Golden plover and Merlin and plants such as bogbean round-leaved sundew and the very rare Pale forget-me-not may suffer.

With the prospect of future droughts, Friends of the Earth is calling for long term, advance contingency plans and information on the ability of rivers to withstand water abstraction.Plans should also include substantial measures to reduce the demand for water [3]. The Environment Agency must be given the powers to enforce these plans. Friends of the Earth is also calling for massive new investment into renewable energy and away from fossil fuels for power generation to reduce the UK's contribution to global climate change.

Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth said: "Water companies are getting away with taking huge amounts of water under the guise of drought orders, and our wildlife is getting hammered as a result. We are letting them get away with draining our wetlands and rivers just because they cannot manage their business properly. Areas like the South Pennines which have both natural and historical significance to this country will be left high and dry.Climate change is both a global and a local issue which our local water companies simply cannot ignore."


NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The report: Friends of the Earth. (1996). Environmental Assessment of Drought Orders and Permits. Friends of the Earth, London. The report is based on a study of drought order applications made by Yorkshire Water in 1995 and 1996. There are no codes of practice for drought order environmental assessments despite the fact that companies are required by law to indicate the effect of the order.

English Nature has identified 89 nationally important wildlife sites (SSSIs) suffering from over-abstraction of water. In the past the NRA (now the Environment Agency) has identified scores of rivers suffering from low flows as a result of water abstraction by water companies.

The report states:
*Companies frequently claim in their reports that impacts will be 'negligible' without having the data or scientific research to back this up.
*Consultation is inadequate. For example, even the Government's own wildlife watchdog English Nature had only days to comment on the drought order for the River Hull in Yorkshire this year - despite the fact that English Nature has identified River Hull Headwaters SSSI as suffering from over-abstraction.
*There are no guidelines for the environmental assessments used and no guidelines on when orders are needed.
*Even when reports do predict damage such as fish kills, drought orders are still granted. For example the current drought order on the River Hull predicts a severe impact on water quality.
*Companies have to demonstrate an 'exceptional shortage in rain'. However, there are no guidelines on what constitutes such a shortfall.

[2] Climate change will mean more droughts in the South and East of England. Yorkshire's climate will change to become similar to the Thames region according to the Department of the Environment in Review of the Potential Effects of Climate Change in the United Kingdom. HMSO, London.

[3] Friends of the Earth published a report this month detailing ways of conserving water that are good for the community, good for the environment, good for businesses and bring more jobs. They are also cheaper than seeking new supplies through water transfer pipelines leaving companies more money to mend leaks. Friends of the Earth. (1996).Alternatives to the Kielder Transfer Scheme. Friends of the Earth, London.
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