The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/cams

We welcome feedback including comments about the content and

presentation of this report.

If you are happy with our service please tell us. It helps us to identify

good practice and rewards our staff. If you are unhappy with our

service, please let us know how we can improve it.

For further copies of this report or other reports published by the

Environment Agency, contact general enquiries on 0845 9333111

or email us on [email protected]


The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy

Final Strategy March 2006


The Environment Agency is the leading public body protecting and

improving the environment in England and Wales.

It’s our job to make sure that air, land and water are looked after by

everyone in today’s society, so that tomorrow’s generations inherit a

cleaner, healthier world.

Our work includes tackling flooding and pollution incidents, reducing

industry’s impacts on the environment, cleaning up rivers, coastal

waters and contaminated land, and improving wildlife habitats.

Published by:

Environment AgencyGuildbourne HouseChatsworth Road, WorthingWest Sussex BN11 1LDTel: 08708 506506 Fax: 01903 821832 © Environment Agency March 2006

All rights reserved. This document may be reproduced with

prior permission of the Environment Agency.

This report is printed using water based inks on Revive, a recycled

paper combining at least 75% de-inked post consumer waste and

25% mill broke.

Front cover photograph by Rod Murchie.

ContaCts:ENVIRONMENT AGENCY HEAD OFFICE

Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UD Tel: 01454 624 400 Fax: 01454 624 409

www.environment-agency.gov.ukwww.environment-agency.wales.gov.uk

GES

O08

05BJ

NG

-e-p

Pr

inte

d on

Cyc

lus

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY REGIONAl OFFICEsANGLIAN Kingfisher House Goldhay Way Orton Goldhay Peterborough PE2 5ZR Tel: 01733 371 811 Fax: 01733 231 840

MIDLANDS Sapphire East 550 Streetsbrook Road Solihull B91 1QT Tel: 0121 711 2324 Fax: 0121 711 5824

NORTH EAST Rivers House 21 Park Square South Leeds LS1 2QG Tel: 0113 244 0191 Fax: 0113 246 1889

NORTH WEST PO Box 12 Richard Fairclough House Knutsford Road Warrington WA4 1HG Tel: 01925 653 999 Fax: 01925 415 961

SOUTHERN Guildbourne House Chatsworth Road Worthing West Sussex BN11 1LD Tel: 01903 832 000 Fax: 01903 821 832

SOUTH WEST Manley House Kestrel Way Exeter EX2 7LQ Tel: 01392 444 000 Fax: 01392 444 238

THAMES Kings Meadow House Kings Meadow Road Reading RG1 8DQ Tel: 0118 953 5000 Fax: 0118 950 0388

WALES Cambria House 29 Newport Road Cardiff CF24 0TP Tel: 029 2077 0088 Fax: 029 2079 8555

NORTH EAST

Leeds

Warrington

Solihull

MIDLANDSANGLIAN

Peterborough

SOUTHERNSOUTH WEST

Exeter

Cardiff

BristolTHAMES London

Worthing

Reading

WALES

NORTH WEST

E N V I R O N M E N T A G E N C YG E N E R A L E N Q U I R Y L I N E

08708 506506

E N V I R O N M E N T A G E N C YE M E R G E N C Y H O T L I N E

0800 80 70 60

E N V I R O N M E N T A G E N C YF L O O D L I N E

0845 988 1188

Foreword

Our much valued Rivers Test and Itchen are chalk streams of the highest quality with their wealth of wildlife including otters, salmon, trout, damselflies and water crowfoot. The delightful landscape helps to draw an increasing number of people who live, work and play within these catchments.

This area of Hampshire is under enormous development pressure with planned new housing likely to make increased demands on water resources.

Water is a finite resource and it is important that abstraction is managed effectively to protect the environment and public water supply. We shall be seeking to ensure that all new developments and existing housing are made more efficient whenever possible.

The Test and Itchen CAMS sets out the policies for managing water abstraction in the two catchments over the next six years. The process also highlights a number of issues that require investigation and the strategy includes actions to enable us to improve our understanding before it is reviewed between 2010–2012.

The Test and Itchen catchments will face many demands in the future and we will work hard with our partners to achieve a balance between the needs of people and our precious water environment.

Peter Kelly

Area Manager Hampshire & Isle of Wight

Environment Agency The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy

Contents1 Introduction 12 Consultation on the Test & Itchen CAMs 23 The CAMs area 3 3.1 Hydrology and Hydrogeology 3 3.2 Hydrometry 6 3.3 Abstractions and Discharges 8 3.4 Agriculture and Industry 11 3.5 Augmentation Schemes 11 3.6 Conservation Designations 11 3.7 Status of Ecology and Fisheries 14 3.8 Water Quality 15 3.9 Links with other plans and initiatives 16 3.10 Stakeholder Concerns 18

4 Resource assessment and resource availability status 19 4.1 Introduction 19 4.2 Application to the Test and Itchen CAMS 20 4.3 Resource assessment of river assessment points 20 4.4 Surface Water Resource Availability 22 4.5 Resource assessment of groundwater management units 23 4.6 Integration of the surface water and groundwater resource assessments 23 4.7 Definition of Water Resource Management Units 24 4.8 Areas which are not in Water Resource Management Units 26 4.9 Further data needed before the next CAMS 26

5 Proposed licensing strategy 27 5.1 Sustainability appraisal 27 5.2 National Policies 27 5.3 Southern Region Policies 27 5.4 Catchment overview of proposed licensing strategy 28 5.5 WRMU 1 Upper Itchen – “No Water Available” 30 5.6 WRMU 2 Candover – “No Water Available” 32 5.7 WRMU 3 Lower Itchen – “Over-Abstracted” 34 5.8 WRMU 4 Upper Test – “No Water Available” 36 5.9 WRMU 5 Bourne – “No Water Available” 38 5.10 WRMU 6 Anton – “Over-Licensed” 40 5.11 WRMU 7 Blackwater – “No Water Available” 42 5.12 WRMU 8 Lower Test – “Over-Licensed” 44 5.13 WRMU 9 Mid Test – “No Water Available” 47 5.14 Remaining CAMS Area not within an WRMU 49 5.15 Opportunities for licence trading in the Test & Itchen CAMS 49 5.16 The Water Act 2003 49

6 Future developments in the CAMs area 50 6.1 Planning Water Resources 50 6.2 Promoting Water Efficiency 51 6.3 Climate Change 52 6.4 Water Resource Schemes relevant to the Test and Itchen CAMS Area 52

7 Post CAMs Actions 55A1: Water efficiency contacts 56Glossary of Terms 57list of Acronyms, Abbreviations and Units 61

Environment Agency Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy 1

Introduction

1

Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS) are strategies for management of water resources at a local level. They will make more information on water resources and licensing practice publicly available and allow the balance between the needs of abstractors, other water users and the aquatic environment to be considered in consultation with the local community and interested parties. It should be noted that CAMS are not intended to directly cover water quality issues but these will be addressed in the forthcoming Water Framework Directive River Basin Management Plans. CAMS are also the mechanism for managing time-limited licences by determining whether they should be renewed and, if so, on what terms.

Managing Water Abstraction: The Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy Process is the national document that supports the development of CAMS at a local level. It sets out the national policy and the regulatory framework within which CAMS operate, describes the process of developing CAMS and provides information on the structure and content of CAMS documents. This strategy should be read in conjunction with Managing Water Abstraction.

This Test and Itchen CAMS Final Strategy document sets out how much water is available in the catchments and details the Environment Agency’s policies and actions relating to the management of this water, over the next 6 years. It is recognised that this first CAMS will not rectify all identified and possible water resource problems for these catchments. However it does describe actions the Agency will take to ratify its findings and work towards possible solutions. It is the third of four CAMS to be produced for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

A technical document (Final version) for the Test and Itchen CAMS has been produced which provides the detailed technical information on which the development of the strategy has been based.

If you wish to receive this document on CD-ROM, please contact us at the address below. A hard-copy version of the document is also available for viewing at the same office.

Contact:

Jim Whatley – Technical Officer Water Resources Environment Agency Hampshire & Isle of Wight Area Office Colvedene Court Wessex Way Colden Common Winchester Hampshire SO21 1WP Tel: 01962 764973 Fax: 01962 841573 Email: [email protected]

River Itchen near Alresford

Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS).

The Vision:

River systems of the highest quality ensuring conservation of the rich diversity of wildlife in the river and wetland environment whilst providing for people’s social and economic needs into the forseeable future.

Consultation is an integral part of the CAMS process. It is important because it ensures that the CAMS process is as transparent as possible and gives everyone the opportunity to get involved. For the Environment Agency to manage water resources in a catchment effectively and sustainably, it is important that as much information as possible is collated on water needs and uses. Comments and suggestions have been gathered during the early stages of development of this strategy through various pre-consultation activities. These were:

• Wide circulation of an awareness-raising leaflet

• Setting up of a CAMS Stakeholder Group

• Obtaining specific interest group information from stakeholders

• Contact with a wider consultation group

• Setting up of a multi-disciplinary CAMS project group

The leaflet was distributed in August 2004. Its aim was to raise awareness of the development of the CAMS in the local area and it also invited anyone with an interest to send in written comments, providing information, views and suggestions for consideration during the early development of the CAMS.

A stakeholder group was set up for the Test & Itchen CAMS. The role of the stakeholder group was to represent the key interests in the catchment and to help identify issues of local significance, provide views on proposals and to consider the likely implications of different strategy options. The members of the Test & Itchen CAMS stakeholder group and the interests they represent are as follows:

Mr Tim Greenwood Chairperson Mr Bob Lisney Hampshire County Council Ms Alison Graham-Smith English Nature Dr Steve Rothwell Watercress Growers Association Mr Mark Potter Water Companies Mr Graham Roberts Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust Mr Geoff Butler National Farmers Union Mr Jim Glasspool Test & Itchen Association Mr Christopher Saunders-Davies Fish Farming Mr Terry Holden-Brown Southampton Unitary Councillor

Obviously it was not possible to include representatives from all organisations on the stakeholder group. In addition to the above members other individuals were supplied with the minutes of stakeholder meetings and invited to to raise comments. Those included were:

Mr John Paton Fishers Pond Fishery Mr John Woodhead Hilliers Nurseries Mr Andy Neve Portsmouth Water Mr Geoff Young Portals Papermill Mr Graham Smith Test Valley Borough Council Planning

There was also a formal consultation on the Test & Itchen CAMS between September and December 2005. There were 29 responses raising many issues including the following topics:

• Concern regarding the increase in housing in the catchments and the ability of water resources in the area to cope without damage to the environment

• Support for the CAMS licensing policies but suggesting they should go further with a prohibition of further licensing rather than a presumption against

• Suggestions regarding the pumping of water from mouths of rivers to the upper reaches and aquifer recharge

• Particular concerns over the River Anton and Bourne Rivulet

The responses received were considered when finalising this strategy and will be taken into account when implementing its actions.

A Statement of Response was issued in February 2006 and is included in the Technical Document with a summary of the responses received. A number of the issues raised are not covered by this strategy and have been forwarded to the appropriate departments for consideration.

Environment Agency The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy2

2

Consultation on the Test & Itchen CAMS

Environment Agency The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy 3

The CAMS Area

The Test & Itchen CAMS incorporates the catchments of the River Test and River Itchen and their tributaries, an area of approximately 1760km². The rivers are regarded as two of the finest chalk streams in the world with their crystal clear waters supporting a rich diversity of mammal, bird, fish, invertebrate and plant communities. Both main rivers are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with the River Itchen further designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under European legislation. They are also internationally famous for their trout and salmon fishing and are the birthplace of fly fishing.

Watercress farming has since the mid-19th century been linked with the catchments and the current smaller, but more intensively managed industry, is still centred in the headwaters of both rivers.

Although the area is predominantly rural, the southern half contains the densely urbanised areas of Southampton, Eastleigh, Romsey and Winchester and the north, Andover (Figure 1). The combined population of well over half a million is likely to grow with the development suggested in the South East Plan.

3.1. Hydrology and HydrogeologyThe geology of the Test and Itchen CAMS Area is dominated by chalk (Figure 2). The chalk dips gently to the south and becomes overlain by the predominantly clay Tertiary deposits which extend over the southern part of the CAMS area. The Tertiary deposits are much less permeable than the chalk and hence the rivers have more tributaries in this area.

Groundwater in the chalk feeds both the River Test and River Itchen and provides the rivers with reliable flows of high quality water. Rainfall percolates into the aquifer and slowly recharges it over the winter and spring months. The groundwater catchments of both the Test and Itchen extend beyond their surface water catchments and derive water from the Agency’s adjoining Thames and South West Regions.

Flows in chalk streams vary less than most other rivers, rising to a peak in spring following the winter rains and then receding gently until the following autumn. Water levels fluctuate even less, higher flows in winter being accommodated by greater velocities while water levels in summer are maintained by aquatic weed growth and in some cases the operation of hatches. Water from the chalk tends to be clear, clean and cool, with low levels of nutrients, allowing sunshine to penetrate and maintaining high levels of dissolved oxygen. These rivers are therefore highly productive both in terms of wildlife, reflected by the national and international designations, and for human society, particularly in southern Hampshire which is heavily dependent on them for water resources.

The River Test rises at Ashe near Overton and flows over chalk to Timsbury. It gains flow from the underlying chalk and from several spring-fed tributaries – the Bourne Rivulet, the Anton and Pillhill Brook, the River Dever, the Wallop Brook, the Somborne Stream and the River Dun. From the upper reaches the river widens considerably and meanders through a wide floodplain flanked by water meadows. Within its broad valley it frequently splits to form a network of braided channels.

3

River Itchen near Winchester City Mill


420000

420000

430000

430000

440000

440000

450000

450000

460000

460000

470000

470000

1000

00

1000

00

1100

00

1100

00

1200

00

1200

00

1300

00

1300

00

1400

00

1400

00

1500

00

1500

00

1600

00

1600

00

4 0 4 8 122Kilometers

Winchester

Southampton

Andover

Alresford

Romsey

Overton

Riv

er T

est

Riv

er It

chen

© CEH Wallingford© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Environment Agency100026380, 2006

Rivers

Urban Areas

CAMS Area

Figure 1 – CAMs Area Overview


420000

420000

430000

430000

440000

440000

450000

450000

460000

460000

470000

470000

1100

00

1100

00

1200

00

1200

00

1300

00

1300

00

1400

00

1400

00

1500

00

1500

00

1600

00

1600

00



Bracklesham Group

Bagshot Formation

London Clay

Reading Beds

Upper Chalk

Middle Chalk

Lower Chalk

Rivers

CAMS Area

Figure 2 – Geology

Downstream of Timsbury the river then flows over the Tertiary sands and clays to the south. The Lower Test splits into several channels and is joined by the River Blackwater, the Tadburn Stream and many other small tributaries before it discharges to Southampton Water at Redbridge.

The River Itchen rises near Cheriton and is joined by two tributaries, the River Alre and the Candover Stream near Alresford. The River Itchen, like the Test, gains flow from the underlying chalk before flowing onto Tertiary sands and clays at Otterbourne. The river is joined by the Bow Lake Stream just north of Bishopstoke. This small tributary drains from Lower Upham. The Itchen enters the tidal estuary at Woodmill where it is joined by the Monks Brook which drains Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh and Swaythling. In Winchester the River Itchen is split to flow down the Itchen Navigation as well as the main river which flows through various braided channels.

Both the Test and Itchen have been subject to substantial modification through human use over a long period of time. For much of their length, the rivers are divided into two or more separate channels running parallel to each other with many structures to regulate flows and levels.

3.2. HydrometryWater resources are monitored using a network of hydrometric stations. This data is used on a routine basis for drought and flood monitoring, water resource investigations and has also been used to assess resources availability status in this CAMS. Figure 3 shows the locations of gauging stations, raingauges and observation boreholes.

River flow is measured at the gauging stations listed below.

The Agency has a network of 498 monitoring boreholes in the Test and Itchen CAMS area. 184 of these are monitored on a monthly basis and 210 are monitored on a six monthly basis. The remainder are measured in exceptionally dry or wet conditions. The vast majority of the monitoring sites record groundwater levels in the chalk aquifer.


Flow gauging

Gauging station River Main CatchmentSewards Bridge Cheriton Stream ItchenDrove Lane River Alre ItchenBorough Bridge Candover Stream ItchenEaston River Itchen ItchenAllbrook Itchen Navigation ItchenHighbridge River Itchen ItchenRiverside Park River Itchen ItchenStoneham Lane Monks Brook ItchenChilbolton River Test TestTimsbury River Test TestLongbridge River Test TestM27 River Test TestTestwood Great Test TestBourne Bourne Rivulet TestBransbury River Dever TestFullerton River Anton TestBroughton Wallop Brook TestBossington Wallop Brook TestDunbridge River Dun TestRomsey Tadburn Stream TestConagar Bridge Little Test TestTest Back Carrier Test Back Carrier TestOwer River Blackwater Test

Table 1 I Primary Gauging Stations in the Test and Itchen CAMS Area

Photo 5: Flow gauging

Full page opposite Figure 3: Hydrometric Sites


420000

420000

430000

430000

440000

440000

450000

450000

460000

460000

470000

470000

1000

00

1000

00

1100

00

1100

00

1200

00

1200

00

1300

00

1300

00

1400

00

1400

00

1500

00

1500

00

1600

00

1600

00



Raingauges

Observation Boreholes

River Flow Gauging Stations

Rivers

Urban Areas

CAMS Area

Figure 3 – Hydrometric sites

Environment Agency TheTest and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy�

There are 9 tipping bucket raingauges in the Test and Itchen CAMS area with a further 35 observer raingauges.

At Otterbourne there is a climate station recording windspeed and direction, air, ground and soil temperature, relative humidity, evaporation and rainfall.

3.3. Abstractions and Discharges

3.3.1. Abstractions

The annual total quantity of water licensed for abstraction in the Test and Itchen catchments is equivalent to 1810 million litres a day. This total represents 73% licensed abstraction from surface water and 27% from groundwater. Figure 4 shows the total licenced volumes by purpose for the catchments and Figure 5 the location of licensed abstractions.

Nearly three-quarters of this is for non-consumptive uses with fish farming accounting for 61% and watercress cultivation nearly 12%. There are also two augmentation schemes on the River Alre and the Candover Stream which are used to augment the flow of the downstream River Itchen in order to mitigate the effects of a Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) near Eastleigh. These are detailed later and account for 2% of the licensed total. All these purposes are classified as non-consumptive because water is returned to rivers close to where it is sourced.

Consumptive abstraction accounts for 25% of the total with 23% licensed for Public Water Supply (PWS), the main surface water abstractions being at Otterbourne and Gaters Mill on the River Itchen and Testwood on the River Test. Testwood can

also supply the Isle of Wight with up to a quarter of its public water supply requirements through a cross-Solent main. There are also groundwater abstractions for public water supply from the chalk aquifer. These range from small rural sources at sites such as Ibthorpe, Overton and Whitchurch to much larger groundwater sources at Otterbourne, Andover and Easton. As the groundwater catchments extend outside the defined CAMS area, there are groundwater licences in other Regions of the Agency which can affect the Test and Itchen. These sources include Lasham, near Alton and the MOD supplies at Tidworth.

The remaining 2% is split between agriculture, industry and licensed private domestic supplies.

Figure 6 shows only consumptive abstraction with licensed quanties for public water supply and other abstractions compared with the amount of water actually abstracted.

3.3.2. Discharges

Many of the discharges in the catchments are from Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW). Although these are not directly connected to any abstraction licence, some of the water abstracted for public water supply is returned to rivers via these discharges. Significant discharges direct to the River Itchen include treatment works at Eastleigh and Harestock. Morestead treatment works discharges to the ground within the vicinity of the River Itchen. Works at Andover and Romsey discharge directly to the River Test. A number of large works discharge treated sewage effluent to the marine waters of the Solent which effectively means water abstracted to supply the Southampton area is not returned to the river and is therefore lost from the catchment. Other discharges in the catchment include effluent discharges from a number of watercress and fish farms across the area and one discharge from a paper mill in the upper reaches of the River Test. Figure 7 shows the main discharges.

Figure 5 Total licence volumes by purpose in this CAMS area

Augmentation2%

Agriculture<1%

Industrial1% Other

<1%

Public Water Supply23%

Fishfarming61%

Watercress12%

Figure 4 – Total licence volumes by purpose in this CAMS area

Figure 6 – Consumptive licensed and actual abstraction in millions of litre per day


420000

420000

430000

430000

440000

440000

450000

450000

460000

460000

470000

470000

1000

00

1000

00

1100

00

1100

00

1200

00

1200

00

1300

00

1300

00

1400

00

1400

00

1500

00

1500

00

1600

00

1600

00

5 0 5 10 152.5Kilometers


Rivers

Urban Areas

CAMS Area

Groundwater AbstractionMegalitres per day

0 − 2

3 − 9

10 − 21

22 − 36

37 − 72

Surface Water AbstractionMegalitres per day

0 − 5

6 − 14

15 − 30

31 − 91

92 − 182

Figure 5 – licensed Abstractions


420000

420000

430000

430000

440000

440000

450000

450000

460000

460000

470000

470000

1000

00

1000

00

1100

00

1100

00

1200

00

1200

00

1300

00

1300

00

1400

00

1400

00

1500

00

1500

00

1600

00

1600

00



Sewage Treatment Works/Outfalls

Industrial/Trade/Other Discharge

Rivers

Urban Areas

CAMS Area

Figure 7 – Consented Discharges of more than 10 cubic metres per day


3.4. Agriculture and Industry For over 100 years the watercress industry has been prominent in the two catchments and provides over 400 jobs in the area. The cultivation of watercress depends on the reliable supply of large volumes of groundwater and cress farms are often sited near areas of naturally high spring flow. The water from springs and boreholes is returned to the catchment but there are often local hydrological impacts.

Many farms have their own supply from wells and boreholes, supplying water for general agricultural use, houses and in some cases for irrigation. The latter is fully consumptive as water is lost from the catchment by evaporation and transpiration, but the agricultural sector as a whole uses relatively small quantities. Trickle irrigation is an emerging, consumptive use of water and will become licensable in 2007 under the provisions of the Water Act.

Aquaculture is also very evident in the two catchments and is undertaken for rearing trout for the table and for re-stocking purposes. Although there is only limited employment provided by the farms, a significant number of jobs are associated with connected industries.

The paper mill at Overton, producing banknote paper, is also a significant abstractor of water and provides several hundred jobs in the area. Other industries with their own direct abstractions include water bottling and railway maintenance but these represent a relatively small use of water. Many private houses across the Hampshire Downs have their own groundwater sources which are in some cases their sole supply of water but waste water is invariably discharged back to the catchment through treatment plants and septic tanks.

3.5. Augmentation SchemesIn the 1960s and 70s there appeared to be an inexorable rise in the amount of water abstracted and subsequently discharged as waste water by water companies. In particular, flows in the middle and lower stretches of the River Itchen were depleted by surface and groundwater abstraction. The river then received effluent from growing populations in the Eastleigh area and water quality was seen to be critically vulnerable during drought summers. Groundwater schemes were therefore developed to pump water from boreholes located in the upper catchments into the Candover and Alre tributaries, thence augmenting flows along the whole of the main river. The planned frequency of operation was once in 10 years and in practice they were fully used during the droughts of 1976 and 1989. Since then abstraction has fallen substantially and water quality has improved due to investment by water companies and the regulation of agricultural and industrial discharges. These groundwater schemes remain on standby for the most severe droughts and will also in future be used under carefully controlled conditions for ecological support.

3.6. Conservation DesignationsWithin this CAMS area, there are a large number of wetland sites which are strategically important to the biodiversity of Hampshire. These vary considerably in scale and nature and include rivers, streams, floodplain grazing marshes, ditches, fens, reedbeds and marshes. These sites can be affected by a range of factors such as changes in land use, development, abstraction, climate change, water level management and site management.

Watercress beds near Alresford

Water Vole


420000

420000

430000

430000

440000

440000

450000

450000

460000

460000

470000

4700001000

00

1000

00

1100

00

1100

00

1200

00

1200

00

1300

00

1300

00

1400

00

1400

00

1500

00

1500

00

1600

00

1600

00



Rivers

Urban Areas

CAMS Area

Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Ramsar Site

Special Protection Area (SPA)

Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB)

Figure � – Designated Conservation sites


Many of the wetland habitats and some of the species dependent upon them are the subjects of UK Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP). The Agency has a special responsibility to promote the conservation of all wetland wildlife, both the common and the rare, and takes a lead role in co-ordinating the delivery of Government BAP targets for many wetland habitats and species (e.g. Water Vole). The rivers and wetlands of the Test and Itchen support an exceptional diversity of wildlife and all of this is dependent on an adequate supply of water.

The high quality of the wetland habitats in this CAMS area is reflected by the extensive conservation designations in the area shown in Figure 8. These designations range from those under European legislation such as the River Itchen Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to nationally designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) like the River Test to the large number of wetland habitats which enjoy protection from non-statutory designation as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation.

River Itchen sACThe whole of the River Itchen is designated under European legislation as a Special Area of Conservation. The designation recognises the international importance of the chalk stream ecology of the Itchen as a whole, and listed interest features are: the macrophyte community, Salmon, Southern Damselfly, white clawed crayfish, brook lamprey, bullhead and otter.

Rivers Test and Itchen sssIs – The River Itchen and the River Test are both described as ‘classic’ chalk rivers, so called because of their exceptionally species-rich aquatic flora and associated wildlife. The community of aquatic plants known as macrophytes has an important influence on the rivers in terms of water levels and flow. It is also the dominant in-stream habitat, supporting a nationally important diversity of

aquatic invertebrates, including the native freshwater crayfish.

The Itchen valley contains areas of fen, swamp and water meadows supporting vegetation with diverse plant communities, some very species-rich. Habitats adjacent to the river such as semi-natural riparian vegetation, wet woodland and wet grassland, provide habitat for diverse and sometimes rare invertebrates, riverine bird species and also populations of Water Shrew, Otters and water voles.

The fish fauna of the rivers is typical of lowland chalk rivers in the range of species present, although the community has been modified by introductions of farm reared trout and the removal of other species. Species such as brown trout, Salmon, bullhead, eel and brook lamprey are notable elements of the natural fish fauna.

solent and southampton Water sPA/Ramsar site and solent Maritime sAC The lower reaches of the River Test are designated as part of Solent Maritime SAC and also as part of Solent & Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Ramsar site under the UN Ramsar Convention. The River Itchen also flows into the Solent Maritime SAC.

The lower reaches of the Test show well developed transitions from fen meadow through brackish flood plain grassland to saltmarsh and reed bed. This complete transition of freshwater flood plain habitats to estuarine saltmarsh and mudflat is better developed on the Test than on any other river in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Area. The ecological interests of this site are dependent upon the balance between fresh water input and the tidal influence, and the associated brackish zone. With sea level rise the zonation from freshwater to salt is shifting. Freshwater inputs are important to maintaining the system. The area is also internationally and nationally important for wetland breeding birds and as a wader and duck feeding and roosting ground.

In addition to these notable designations, the ecological wealth of the two rivers and their floodplains is exemplified by the numerous other sites which are protected through statutory and non-statuory designations. These include: Alresford Pond SSSI, Stockbridge Common Marsh and Fen SSSIs, Chilbolton Common and Bransbury Common SSSIs, Baddesley Common SSSI (Emer Bog SAC); and Bere Mill Meadows SSSI.

A significant part of the CAMS area is also included in the North Wessex Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and a small part in the East Hampshire AONB .

White Clawed Crayfish


3.7. Status of Ecology and Fisheries

3.7.1. Ecology

The Environment Agency collects and analyses a large amount of ecological information from aquatic habitats within the Test and Itchen catchments. The data is used to monitor the conservation status of several designated species or habitats and to provide an indication of problems in the river related to, for example, water quality or abstraction issues.

Recent surveys have shown that the ecological interest features are subject to a diverse range of anthropogenic pressures including habitat degradation, isolation, eutrophication, abstraction, pollution, disease (crayfish) and predation (water vole). The Agency and other statutory bodies are working to enhance the status of designated species and habitats where they are currently compromised.

Nationally recognised procedures have been developed to reliably assess the severity and cause of environmental stress, based on macro-invertebrate and macrophyte community variation. The Agency routinely monitors the invertebrate community at 70 locations in the Test and Itchen CAMS area and the macrophyte community at a further 38 sites.

Recent surveys show that the main channels of the Test and Itchen and their chalk tributaries have few problems with organic or toxic pollution. Although subtle impacts have been detected within close proximity of large Waste Water Treatment Works, cress farms and fish farms, chalk stream sites are generally characterised as having ‘very good’ ecological quality. In terms of nutrient enrichment there are certainly indications that the Test and Itchen are eutrophic. The impacts of point and diffuse sources of nutrients are currently being assessed in the context of elevated nutrient levels within groundwaters.

Many tributary streams of the Test and Itchen, which flow over Tertiary deposits, often have unacceptable long-term biological quality. Investigations have highlighted several urban and agricultural pollution sources that are currently being addressed through the Agency’s Water Quality Improvement Plans.

Where water quality problems are not an overriding issue, ecological quality seems to be closely related to river flows and in particular water velocity. For example, during drought periods such as the early 1990s or 1997 invertebrate abundance and diversity and the status of the macrophyte community were severely impacted.

Information from macrophyte, macro-invertebrate and fisheries surveys has been used to guide the assessment of water resource availability in this CAMS.

3.7.2. Fisheries

River TestThe Test is regarded by many as the world’s premier dry fly trout fishery. The fishery provides substantial income for riparian owners as well as employment for river keepers and trout farmers.

For the last hundred years, the whole river has been actively managed to promote the fishery, with weed cutting and bank-side management designed to provide habitat for fish and access for fisherman.

In addition to the brown and sea trout fishery, the river supports a salmon fishery which is largely confined to the lower reaches of the river downstream of Romsey. Riparian interests also operate several licensed eel traps. Winter grayling and coarse fishing is becoming increasingly popular with more sections providing opportunities for day ticket angling.

Fishery surveys and monitoring work have confirmed that salmonid recruitment takes place throughout the entire system and the river has been classified as a “Native Trout Water” under the Environment Agency’s Trout & Grayling Fisheries Strategy. Salmon stocks have been in steady decline over the last forty years, with the river currently failing to meet its conservation objectives which set out to establish spawning targets required to keep the stock in favourable condition.

Key issues impacting the fishery and linked to abstraction are the attractant flows required in the lower River Test to encourage salmon and sea trout to migrate upstream. A comparatively recent change in the distribution of salmon indicates a reluctance for summer run grilse to push up river until autumn flows trigger a spawning migration. The poor survival of salmonid eggs deposited in spawning gravels is considered to be a major impact and is thought to be associated with diffuse pollution which may

Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus) on the River Dun


be exacerbated by low flows. All surface water abstraction points have the capacity to entrain fry and migrating parr and smolts. All such abstraction points require screening by law.

River ItchenLike its sister river the Test, the River Itchen has an international reputation as a world-class trout fishery and is classed as a native trout water. The upper reaches above Easton in particular provide some of the best wild chalk stream trout fishing available in the country. Fish populations largely mirror those found on the Test, with a viable salmon fishery established on the lower Itchen below Bishopstoke.

Vigorous flows are required to pull salmon up above the public water supply abstraction points at Gaters Mill and Otterbourne to key spawning and nursery habitats found further upstream. In addition the Environment Agency is currently trying to open up the catchment above Winchester for salmon migration to help stocks meet their conservation targets. Other key fishery issues linked to abstraction on the Itchen revolve around maintaining water crowfoot communities in favourable condition (SAC feature). This is vital to produce optimum fishery habitat as well as providing key habitats for aquatic invertebrates, the adult stage of which are vital in sustaining viable dry fly fisheries.

3.8. Water QualityThe Environment Agency maintains a network of 55 sampling points to assess the quality of 302.8km of classified rivers within this CAMS area. These are used to monitor compliance with statutory standards and discharge consents. This routine monitoring has shown that water quality in respect of these standards is of an excellent standard within the Test and Itchen catchments. Almost 90% of all river lengths have objectives to achieve water of a “very good quality”

or water of “good quality” suitable for all fish species. The remaining 10% have objectives to achieve ”fair quality” water suitable for high-class coarse fish populations. Compliance assessment, for the years 2000 to 2003, has shown a total (accumulative) length of only 44.2km of river fails its objectives.

Potential impacts on water quality are similar within both catchments. Treated sewage effluent discharged from sewage treatment works for Andover and Romsey influence the downstream water quality in the Test, and Winchester and Eastleigh in the Itchen. In Southampton, wastewater is discharged into Southampton Water and the Solent. There are also a number of treated sewage effluent discharges made to ground in the upper to middle reaches of the two rivers. These recycle water within catchments very efficiently although groundwater needs constant protection against contamination.

Water quality within the smaller urban tributaries can suffer from urban runoff, mis-connections of sewage effluent to surface water drains and illegal discharges. These issues are normally localised and are unlikely to cause water quality in the main rivers to deteriorate. In the upper reaches of the Test and Itchen agriculture, fish farming and watercress growing have the greatest potential to influence water quality. There is also a trade effluent discharge from a paper mill located in Overton that can influence downstream water quality.

The statutory quality standards however only monitor certain chemicals and it is clear that there are reaches of river suffering from other water quality problems not covered. Elevated phosphorus concentrations are normally associated with excessive weed and algae growth that can significantly change river ecology. Phosphorous concentrations are considered elevated in both the Test and Itchen, resulting in their being designated Sensitive Areas (Eutrophic) under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). Phosphorous removal has therefore been installed at Andover WWTW and is planned at Romsey, Harestock and Eastleigh WWTWs. Further improvements to reduce phosphorus concentrations within the rivers may be required under the Habitats Regulations and Crow Act.

In terms of groundwater quality, most of the land use in the Test and Itchen atchments is agricultural, so the main sources of groundwater pollution are likely relate to agricultural activities. The principal cause for concern is diffuse nitrate pollution of groundwater.

The issue of rising nitrate concentrations is currently being addressed through the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones designations and the Water Framework Directive, which is currently assessing the chemical status of all groundwater bodies for a range of different pollutants.

Wild Brown trout

3.9. Links with other plans and initiativesThere is a large number of other plans, strategies and initiatives which are in some way linked to the Test & Itchen CAMS. Efforts have been made to ensure that links between these have been established. They include:

3.9.1. National and Regional Water Resources strategies

These strategies consider the needs of public water supply, agriculture and industry, as well as the environment. Further information about the strategies can be found in Section 6.

3.9.2. River Itchen sustainability study (RIss)

An investigation into the impacts of water company abstraction on the River Itchen SAC was included in the Agency’s National Environment Programme 2000–2005. It was driven by the review of consents required by the Habitats Regulations and funding was allowed by Ofwat through water company charges for water. Consultants were employed by the Environment Agency as project managers and the investigation (subsequently termed the River Itchen Sustainability Study) was directed by a Steering Group of competent authorities in the catchment consisting of Environment Agency, Southern Water, Portsmouth Water, Hampshire County Council, Defra, Eastleigh Borough Council, Winchester City Council and English Nature.

The Study was under-pinned by the Agency’s catchment-scale groundwater model and was groundbreaking in its catchment-wide scope and its integration of techniques. During its three-year life, its range was widened due to two factors: firstly the Defra moderation that increased the number of SAC interest features from two to seven, and secondly the development of the Study to include a review of discharge consents in addition to abstraction licences. The Study completed its work in December 2003 and its outputs are being used for the final stages of the Habitats Regulations review of consents.

3.9.3. Habitats Regulations – Review of Consents

The European Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna – known as the Habitats Directive – was adopted by the European Commission in 1992. The Directive is implemented in the UK by the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994 – commonly known as the ‘Habitats Regulations’. It aims to protect biodiversity through the conservation of natural

habitats and wild plants and animals. Recognising that wildlife habitats are under pressure from increasing demands made on the environment, the Directive provides for the creation of a network of protected areas across the European Union known as Natura 2000 sites. Hampshire has considerably more of these sites than many other counties in the UK and they include the whole of the River Itchen, the New Forest and most of the Solent coastline.

As one of the competent authorities under the Habitats Regulations, the Environment Agency must assess the possible effects of its different permissions on, or potentially affecting, Natura 2000 sites. This includes reviewing existing permissions such as abstraction licences and discharge consents, as well as assessing new ones. The Agency calls the review of existing permissions the Review of Consents process. This is a huge task for the Environment Agency as there are so many permissions operating under our control. In the case of the River Itchen a major investigation has been funded (the River Itchen Sustainability Study), while in others the science on which to base a review barely exists. Our target, set by the Government, is to review all relevant Agency permissions by March 2010 although high priority sites such as the River Itchen Special Area of Conservation have to be reviewed by March 2006. The resulting action plan will include statutory actions to address abstraction related issues. The action plan will also consider activities the Agency does not regulate. As this work has not yet been completed, it is not yet possible to state if abstraction licences will need to be changed or not. It is likely that the action plan will contain a range of actions including activities like river restoration and habitat improvements as well as any necessary changes to abstraction licences and discharge consents. Unfortunately the timescale of the work precludes its inclusion in the final Test & Itchen CAMS document, although it will be implemented during the period of this CAMS.

3.9.4. Restoring sustainable Abstraction Programme

The Restoring Sustainable Abstraction (RSA) Programme was set up in 1999 to identify and catalogue the number of rivers and wetland sites in England and Wales suspected as being over-abstracted. The sites are catalogued in the RSA Database and are prioritised according to environmental and statutory requirements. The sorts of sites that may be included in the database are Habitats Directive sites, sites identified through CAMS, SSSIs and some local undesignated sites. CAMS may identify sites that are potentially being adversely affected by abstraction for inclusion in the RSA programme for investigation as funding and resources allow.



Prior to the RSA programme, the Wallop Brook and the Bourne Rivulet were identified as being at risk.

Consultants were commissioned to investigate both river catchments and make recommendations. The resulting work was prioritised with the Wallop Brook having been successfully completed and some remediation investigations undertaken for the Bourne Rivulet.

3.9.5. Water Framework Directive

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) represents the most substantial piece of water legislation from the European Commission to date. It requires all inland and coastal waters to reach at least “good ecological and good chemical status” by 2015 unless there are grounds for derogation. There is also a general “no deterioration” provision to prevent deterioration in status. The Environment Agency has been named as the Competent Authority for England and Wales and will be responsible for delivering the Directive’s requirements.

An important feature of the Directive is the integration of water quality and water quantity issues for both surface and groundwater. This explicit linking of rivers and aquifers reinforces the holistic approach that will be taken to water management.

The Directive requires statutory strategic management plans known as River Basin Management Plans (RBMP’s) to be produced for each of the nine River Basin Districts in England and Wales. RBMPs will be developed in consultation with the local community and will set out how the objectives for all water bodies within each river basin are to be achieved.

The integrated approach to catchment management envisaged for the WFD will consider a much wider spectrum of pressures and at a smaller scale than considered in CAMS. However, parts of the CAMS process will be used to help deliver the WFD. For example, the lessons learned from CAMS consultation will be important in helping the Environment Agency engage with the public in the WFD process.

The first cycle of CAMS will be completed by 2008 and will feed into the first set of draft RBMPs to be published in the same year. A formal consultation on how the Environment Agency will approach River Basin Planning is underway at the time of publication of this document. It will look at how our existing water planning tools, including CAMS, can best be used to help deliver integrated river basin planning.

The latest information about the WFD can be found at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd.

3.9.6. Water level Management Plans (WlMP)

WLMPs provide a means by which water level requirements for a range of activities in SSSIs, including agriculture, flood defence and conservation, can be balanced and integrated. There are a number either in development or planned for the River Test and River Itchen. Although the policies within this CAMS will apply to the water requirements of WLMPs, it is anticipated that most will be non-consumptive. They would not therefore be subject to the Winter Q50 policy, although other conditions may be applied.

3.9.7. Catchment Flood Management Plans (CFMP)

CFMPs are policies for the long term management of flood risk that take into account the likely impacts of changes in climate, land-use and land management and deliver benefits that contribute towards sustainable development. There is a CFMP planned for the Test and Itchen catchments.

3.9.�. salmon Action Plans

These establish programmes of actions, based on a partnership of various groups, organisations and individuals, working towards conserving and improving salmon stocks safeguarding them for future generations. There are plans in force for both the River Test and the River Itchen and this CAMS will feed into them.

3.9.9. Pollution Reduction Programmes

These describe the state of water quality in respect of the Freshwater Fish Directive and what actions are being taken to maintain and improve water quality. A programme is being developed in respect of the Test and Itchen catchments.

3.9.10. landcare Project

The Test and Itchen Landcare project is a partnership formed as a response to a gradual degradation of the rivers Test and Itchen and their tributaries. Diffuse pollution has been identified as a significant contributor to problems now faced throughout these river catchments caused through certain land management and highway activities. The project aims to encourage and support sustainable land management practices that help tackle issues concerning resource protection, flooding and ecology through farm visits, demonstration and training events for farmers and advisors, and research to identify problematic areas.

Environment Agency The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy1�

3.9.11. Itchen Navigation Project

The Itchen Navigation was developed over a long period for water mills, water meadows and barge traffic between Southampton and Winchester. It is an integral part of the river system with an important industrial and agricultural heritage and its towpath provides ready access for walkers. A bid for major funding to reverse a century of neglect has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

3.9.12. Hampshire Water Partnership

This partnership includes major stakeholders involved in water management at a community level in Hampshire across the private, public and voluntary sectors. It has established a framework for addressing issues facing Hampshire rivers, wetlands and aquifers and organises the annual Hampshire Water Festival.

3.9.13. south East Plan

The South East Plan is the new regional spatial strategy for the South East region and replaces current regional planning guidance. It is a major piece of work being carried out by SEERA and aims to set out a vision for the region through to 2026, focusing on improvements that we need to make to ensure the region remains economically successful and an attractive place to live. It will address important issues such as housing, transport, economy and the environment, including the sustainable use of water resources. The South East is England’s largest region, with a population of 8.1 million, and its economic performance is of consequence for the whole country. Hampshire is the third largest shire county, with a growing population of more than 1.7 million people, and the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) proposes a strategy of managed growth, based on the regeneration of Portsmouth, Southampton and other urban areas within the sub-region. The South East Plan contains policies on water resources, water quality and water company infrastructure for which the CAMS will be a building-block. However, these policies will have to be translated into action on the ground to ensure that development is sustainable. Either the new Code for Sustainable Homes will be adopted on a voluntary but universal basis across the region or regulations will have to be rewritten.

3.9.14. Drought Plans

Both the Environment Agency and water companies have drought plans in place to maintain public water supplies and deal with impacts on the environment. These are implemented at times of exceptional shortages of rainfall.

3.10. Stakeholder ConcernsThe Test & Itchen CAMS Stakeholder Group members have played a valuable role in providing local information and views from their particular broad interests. They have been briefed at all key stages during the development of the CAMS process raising and debating many important issues relating to the catchments.

Some of the main issues discussed were:

• It was strongly felt that the strategy should directly address water quality in addition to quantity rather than being restricted to flow effects on dilution levels

• Concern about the effect on the catchments of current development and that proposed by the South East Plan

• The level of environmental protection that should be afforded to the catchments reflecting their ecological importance relative to other areas of the country

• Andover WWTW discharging into the main River Test rather than the River Anton depriving it of flow

• Concern that the action plan delivered by the Habitats Regulations Review of Consents could not be incorporated into this CAMS due to a mismatch of timescales

• Whether the ‘better science’ of the River Itchen Sustainability Study should be used and transposed to the River Test for this CAMS

• The current condition of the macrophyte community and whether it was suffering from lack of flow

• Effect of low flow on migrating salmon

• The complex river system of the Lower Test and the potential impact of the Testwood public water supply abstraction

• The need for the Environment Agency to ensure that strategies and projects affecting the two catchments are linked

• Conflicting views on the state of river management were expressed

• Concern that a winter Q50 condition might affect future WLMPs and agri-environment schemes established to improve floodplain for breeding waders and wetland flora


4.1. IntroductionTo manage water resources effectively, we need to understand how much water is available and where it is located. This is achieved by undertaking a resource assessment, covering both surface water and groundwater.

Water is used for a number of different purposes, the principal categories being general agriculture, spray irrigation, industrial use, power generation and water supply. For each different use, the amount of water that is returned to the water environment close to where the water was abstracted may vary considerably. Where this loss is high, the Agency considers the abstraction to be consumptive. This may restrict the availability of water for these purposes, unless a significant proportion of the water abstracted is returned to the water source close to the point of abstraction.

To easily provide information on the availability of water resources within a catchment that may be used for consumptive purposes, a classification system has been developed. This “resource availability status”

indicates the relative balance between committed and available resources, showing whether licences are likely to be available and highlighting areas where abstraction needs to be reduced. This does not replace the need for the licence determination process, which is applied to licence applications. More information on the determination process is given in Annexe Two of Managing Water Abstraction.

There are four categories of resource availability status, as shown in Table 2.

So that water resources are assessed consistently in similar situations, a framework for resource assessment and management, to be applied in all CAMS areas, has been developed.

This framework involves the development of an understanding of the water resources of the CAMS area and assessment of the surface water and groundwater resource. These results are integrated to define the final resource availability status of different units within the CAMS area.

19

Resource assessment and resource availability status

4

Indicative resource availability status

Definition Colour coding for illustration on maps

Water available Water likely to be available at all flows including low flows. Restrictions may apply.

Blue

No water available No water available for further licensing at low flows although water may be available at higher flows with appropriate restrictions.

Yellow

Over-licensed Current actual abstraction is resulting in no water available at low flows. If existing licences were used to their full allocation they would have the potential to cause unacceptable environmental impact at low flows.

Water may be available at high flows with appropriate restrictions.

Orange

Over-abstracted Existing abstraction is causing unacceptable environmental impact at low flows. Water may still be available at high flows with appropriate restrictions.

Red

Table 2 I Resource availability status categories


Within and between catchments there are variations in characteristics. In order to measure, manage and regulate effectively, we need to break catchments down into smaller areas, recognising similarities in characteristics. In the resource assessment for CAMS, in areas where groundwater resources are significant, groundwater management units (GWMUs) are defined. For surface water, “assessment points” (APs) are located on the river network. These river APs and GWMUs are the focus of resource assessment and abstraction licensing.

4.2. Application to the Test and Itchen CAMSFigure 9 shows the GWMUs and river APs that have been defined for the Test & Itchen CAMS. Further details on how these were defined are provided in the technical document for the Test & Itchen CAMS.

This CAMS has the benefit of two major studies which have helped inform the resource assessment.

4.2.1. River Itchen sustainability study

The River Itchen Sustainability Study started to unravel the complex science of determining how much water can be abstracted from the River Itchen without causing environmental damage. It was anticipated that this work would be completed and used in this CAMS. Although considerable progress was made in addressing the issue, it was not possible to definitively quantify the impact. Further work is now being carried out by the Agency as part of the Habitats Regulations Review of Consents process and this work will guide any changes to abstraction licences which are deemed to be required. Best science from the sustainability study has been used where appropriate to inform the resource assessment.

4.2.2. Test and Itchen Groundwater Model

The Agency has developed a regional groundwater model covering all of the Test and Itchen CAMS area. The study has helped the Agency to a better understanding of how groundwater and rivers interact and has also provided assessments of the impact of abstractions on river flow. Although the model provides information for the catchment resource assessments it was not designed to look at local abstraction issues. Where further investigation is identified, the groundwater model will be a useful starting point for more detailed work.

4.3. Resource assessment of river assessment points

4.3.1. Environmental Weighting

The surface water resource assessment requires the definition of “river flow objectives”. These are based on the sensitivity of the local ecology to flow variations (i.e. their vulnerability to abstraction impacts). It also takes account of other flow needs. These objectives represent the minimum flow that we are aiming to protect. This then affects the amount of water that is available for abstraction.

These river flow objectives are developed by first giving “environmental weighting” scores to the reaches, which represent the sensitivity of the river reach to abstraction. Reaches are banded according to their sensitivity to abstraction, either Very High (VH), High (H), Medium (M), Low (L) or Very Low (VL). If better specific scientific data is available then this can be substituted for these more generic national scores.

Table 3 show the river flow objectives for each assessment point in the Test & Itchen CAMS area.

These river flow objectives are then compared with a scenario flow which assumes that all licences are being fully utilised (i.e. the full licensed quantity is being abstracted). This comparison reveals either a surplus, balance or deficit. The size of the surplus/deficit corresponds to a resource availability status for the unit.

The environmental weighting scores for this CAMS have been based on a rigorous analysis of the available data combined with expert opinion within a national methodology. As a result of this work, the rivers in this CAMS are considered to have high sensitivity to abstraction.

Wallop Brook AP at Bossington


420000

420000

430000

430000

440000

440000

450000

450000

46000 0

46000 0

470000

470000

1100

00

1100

0 0

1200

00

1200

00

1300

00

1300

0 0

1400

00

1400

00

1500

00

1500

00

1600

00

1600

0 0

4 0 4 8 12 2 Ki lomete rs

© CEH Wa llin gfor d © Crown Copyright . Al l ri gh ts re serv ed . En viro nm en t Agenc y 1000263 80, 2006

River s

CA MS Area

AP 1

AP 2

AP 3 AP 4

AP 5

AP 6

AP 7

AP 20

AP 8

AP 9

AP 10

AP 11

AP 12

AP 13

AP 14

AP 18

AP 16

AP 19

AP 15 AP 17

AP 1 Ch erit on AP 2 Alre AP 3 Ca ndover AP 4 Easton AP 5 Al lb rook an d Hi ghbrid ge AP 6 Ri ve rs i de Park AP 7 It ch en To ta l AP 8 B ourne AP 9 De ve r AP 10 Ch ilb ol to n

AP 11 Anto n AP 12 Wa llo p Brook AP 13 Du n AP 14 Ti msbur y AP 15 Bl ac kw at er To ta l AP 16 Te st To ta l AP 17 Te st w ood GS AP 18 Ow er AP 19 C onagar Br i dge AP 20 M onks Br oo k

River Assess ment Po in ts

Grou ndwater Ma nage ment Un it s

Alre

An to n

Bo ur ne Rivulet

Ca ndo ve r

Ch erit on

De ve r

Du n & Bla ckwat er

Lo we r Itche n

Mi ddl e Itche n

Mi ddl e Te st

Up per Te st

Wa ll op Br oo k

Figure 9 – Groundwater Management Units and River assessment points


The Agency is keen to use the best science available so, although there is no final agreed assessment of abstraction impact on the Itchen, the Sustainability Study represents the best science available at the moment. The Agency has therefore based the environmental weighting for the Lower Itchen on data from the conclusions of the Sustainability Study giving those reaches a lower sensitivity to abstraction. Details of this approach are included in the Technical Document. However, given the current uncertainties and the ongoing work, it is not appropriate at this time to transfer this approach to the Upper Itchen or to the River Test. It is anticipated that the current work will inform the next round of CAMS and may also be used to consider abstraction impacts on the River Test as well as the River Itchen.

4.4. Surface Water Resource AvailabilityThe surface water resource availability classification gives an indication of whether new licences will be available from the river or whether some recovery of resources is required. However, there are significant

variations in flow throughout the year. A classification of “over-licensed” or “over-abstracted” generally indicates that no new licences will be granted. However, this applies only at times of low flow. During periods when flows are higher, there may be some water available for abstraction. The classification is therefore really a classification of resource availability at low flow.

Abstraction licences are sometimes managed in order to ensure this flow variability is maintained by the use of “hands-off flow” conditions. These are conditions on licences that require abstraction to cease (or reduce) when the flow in the river falls below a specified level. Therefore, when river flows are above this hands-off flow, abstraction can take place but when flows are below this, no abstraction (or reduced abstraction) can occur. Low flows will occur more frequently during the summer months.

In order to maximise abstraction while maintaining the variability of flow (required for many aquatic species), a tiered system of hands-off flows is applied. Licences are generally granted with the lowest hands-off flow possible on a first-come-first-served basis. As more licences are granted, the hands-off flow must be increased to maintain sustainable flows in the river.

Assessment Point

Assessment Point Name Main Catchment

Environmental Weighting score

1 Cheriton Stream at Sewards Bridge Itchen High

2 River Alre at Drove Lane Itchen High

3 Candover Stream at Borough Bridge Itchen High

4 River Itchen at Easton Itchen High

5 River Itchen at Allbrook & Highbridge Itchen Better science of RISS used

6 River Itchen at Riverside Park Itchen Better science of RISS used

7 River Itchen Total Itchen Better science of RISS used

8 Bourne Rivulet at Bourne Test High

9 River Dever at Bransbury Test High

10 River Test at Chilbolton Test High

11 River Anton at Fullerton Test High

12 Wallop Brook at Bossington Test High

13 River Dun at Dunbridge Test High

14 River Test at Timsbury Bridge Test High

15 River Blackwater Total Test High

16 River Test Total Test High

17 Great Test at Testwood Test High

18 River Blackwater at Ower Test High

19 Little Test at Conagar Bridge Test High

20 Monks Brook Itchen High

Table 3 I River flow objectives


For potential applicants for new abstraction licences, it is therefore important to know not only the likelihood of obtaining a licence, but also the reliability of a licence if granted with a hands-off flow condition. Within the CAMS resource assessment, reliability is expressed as a percentage. This percentage indicates the minimum amount of time over the long term that the scenario flow exceeds the river flow objective, therefore allowing abstraction to take place.

The resource assessments for both surface water and groundwater use a scenario which assumes that all licences are being fully utilised; that is, the full authorised volume is being abstracted. However, many licences are not used fully and therefore in reality the resource availability can be different. If the result of a resource assessment is “Over-licensed”, data of actual abstraction is then used to establish whether the status is “Over-abstracted” (actual flows are lower than river flow objectives). “Over-abstracted” represents abstraction that is already unsustainable whereas “Over-licensed” represents the potential for damage should the full licensed amount be abstracted.

The Agency’s groundwater model was used to provide assessments of benchmark natural flows and also river flows affected by abstraction.

4.5. Resource assessment of groundwater management unitsFor the groundwater resource assessment, various tests are applied to each unit to determine the resource availability status. These tests include examining the balance between recharge to the unit and abstraction from it, and the impact of abstraction on summer outflows from the unit.

Groundwater is of fundamental importance for this CAMS area. Use of the Test and Itchen groundwater model ensures that the impact of groundwater processes is accounted for in the surface water assessment but groundwater is considered again within five tests. The groundwater model has been used to derive groundwater catchment areas and also recharge estimates.

The groundwater units in this CAMS do not neatly match the CAMS boundary or the internal surface water catchments. The groundwater catchment of the Itchen extends into the Agency’s Thames Region around Alton and the groundwater catchment of the River Test extends into the Agency’s South West Region around Tidworth. This has been accounted for by using the groundwater model to consider these areas within the resource assessment.

4.6. Integration of the surface water and groundwater resource assessmentsThe preliminary results for a river reach or a groundwater management unit may be overridden in order to protect a downstream river reach or underlying groundwater management unit. Here the downstream reach or unit is known as the critical reach.

Where the preliminary low flow resource availability status of the river reach or groundwater management unit is “water available”, it is overridden to “no water available” in order to indicate that additional abstraction will only be allowed where it does not make the position within the critical reach any worse.

Where the river reach or groundwater management unit is “no water available”, “over-licensed” or “over abstracted” it maintains its own status. The strategy that is developed still takes into account the impact that any additional abstraction from these river reaches or groundwater management units has on the critical reach.

Table 4 shows the final resource availability status of groundwater management units and river reaches in the Test and Itchen CAMS area. This is the status following downstream considerations and integration of the groundwater and surface water assessment results. The results of the separate surface water and groundwater assessments are available in the Test and Itchen CAMS Technical Document.

Both the River Itchen and River Test have large abstractions in their lower reaches which cause the lower assessment points of the River Itchen to be defined as Over Abstracted and for the River Test as Over Licensed. These are defined as critical reaches which override the upstream units individually assessed as Water Available or No Water Available.

Environment Agency The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy24 Environment Agency The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy24

Assessment Point and GWMU

Assessment Point and GWMU Name Main Catchment

Final Water Resource Assessment

1 Cheriton Stream at Sewards Bridge Itchen No Water Available

2 River Alre at Drove Lane Itchen No Water Available

3 Candover Stream at Borough Bridge Itchen No Water Available

4 River Itchen at Easton Itchen No Water Available

5 River Itchen at Allbrook & Highbridge Itchen Over Abstracted

6 River Itchen at Riverside Park Itchen Over Abstracted

7 River Itchen Total Itchen Over Abstracted

8 Bourne Rivulet at Hurstbourne Priors Test No Water Available

9 River Dever at Bransbury Test No Water Available

10 River Test at Chilbolton Test No Water Available

11 River Anton at Fullerton Test Over Licensed

12 Wallop Brook at Bossington Test No Water Available

13 River Dun at Dunbridge Test No Water Available

14 River Test at Timsbury Bridge Test No Water Available

15 River Blackwater Total Test No Water Available

16 River Test Total Test Over Licensed

17 Great Test at Testwood Test Over Licensed

18 River Blackwater at Ower Test No Water Available

19 Little Test at Conagar Bridge Test No Water Available

20 Monks Brook at Stoneham Lane Itchen No Water Available

Table 4 I Final Resource Availability Status Results

4.7. Definition of Water Resource Management UnitsThe resource availability results for the river reach and groundwater management unit assessments are integrated to produce Water Resource Management Units.

The Test and Itchen CAMS has 9 Water Resource Management Units (WRMUs). These units have been defined to enable the management of water resources and have been derived from the river reaches and associated Assessment Points and Groundwater Management Units used to assess water resource availability. Figure 10 and Table 5 show the Resource Availability Status for each of the WRMUs.

The Candover Stream and Bourne Rivulet are both defined as No Water Available but are not merged with other units of the same status as their assessment points are influenced by significant discharges in the lower reaches of both rivers.


420000

420000

430000

430000

440000

440000

450000

450000

460000

460000

470000

470000

1100

00

1100

00

1200

00

1200

00

1300

00

1300

00

1400

00

1400

00

1500

00

1500

00

1600

00

1600

00



Rivers Groundwater Units

Water Available

No Water available

Over Licenced

Over Abstracted

Water Available

No Water available

Over Licenced

Over Abstracted

WRMU 1

WRMU 2

WRMU 3

WRMU 4

WRMU 5

WRMU 6

WRMU 7

WRMU 8

WRMU 9

Water Resource Management Units

WRMU1 Upper ItchenWRMU 2 CandoverWRMU 3 Lower ItchenWRMU 4 Upper TestWRMU 5 BourneWRMU 6 AntonWRMU 7 BlackwaterWRMU 8 Lower TestWRMU 9 Mid Test

Hatched area within Thames Region

Hatched area within South West Region

Figure 10 – Water Resource Management Units


WRMU Number

WRMU Description Main Catchment

Water Resource Assessment

1 Upper Itchen to Easton Itchen No Water Available

2 Candover Stream to Borough Bridge Itchen No Water Available

3 Lower Itchen from Easton to Woodmill Itchen Over Abstracted

4 Upper Test to Chilbolton Test No Water Available

5 Bourne Rivulet to Bourne Test No Water Available

6 River Anton to Fullerton Test Over Licensed

7 River Blackwater to Testwood Test No Water Available

8 Lower Test from Timsbury to Redbridge Test Over Licensed

9 Middle Test from Chilbolton to Timsbury Test No Water Available

Table 5 I Water Resource Management Units

4.8. Areas which are not in Water Resource Management UnitsThe majority of the CAMS area is within a Water Resource Management Unit. The only notable exception is the Monks Brook in Eastleigh. This is a small urban stream which has no abstractions as it is not a reliable resource. The river has a very small baseflow and responds rapidly to rainfall. It is highly engineered through the urban area and it was not considered necessary to include it within a Water Resource Management Unit. However, the water resources of the Monks Brook have been included in the overall water resource assessment for the River Itchen.

Other streams that the CAMS does not address are the Tanners Brook flowing through Millbrook in Southampton and other small coastal, urban streams. There are no abstractions from these streams.

4.9. Further data needed before the next CAMSThis CAMS has had the benefit of the River Itchen Sustainability Study and a groundwater model for the Test and Itchen. These tools have been important in the completion of this resource assessment. There is still a need for further work to improve the resource assessment before the next round of CAMS. In particular, further work is needed to understand the impact of abstraction on the ecology of particular reaches of both rivers. The detailed work on the River Itchen should be considered in the context of transferring the conclusions to the River Test, a sister river in respects of geology, topography and climate but with differences in scale and management.

5.1. Sustainability appraisal

5.1.1. Introduction

A sustainability appraisal process has been developed to enable the Agency to take account of costs and benefits in the production of CAMS. The process considers the government’s four objectives of sustainable development, relating to environment, economics, society and resource use. It uses a largely qualitative, proforma-based approach to consider what the resource availability status for each water resource management unit should or could be after each six-year cycle (Tier 1). This is undertaken for all units in all CAMS areas. It also allows the appraisal of options for recovering water resources, by taking into account the implications of different options on all aspects of sustainability (Tier 2). This is undertaken to determine the most sustainable options for the future management of the catchment including, where necessary options for recovery of resources. More information on the sustainability appraisal process is provided in Managing Water Abstraction: The Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy Process.

5.2. National PoliciesThere are existing National Policies which apply to the Test and Itchen CAMS area. They include Habitats Regulations review of consents. Time-limiting of licences and the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme (RSA), all of which are detailed elsewhere in this document.

5.3. Southern Region PoliciesThe regional strategy provides a framework for CAMS preparation and licensing strategy. CAMS outcomes will influence future national and regional strategies. Water Resources in the South East have been under pressure for some time. To manage water resources effectively, policies have been developed and have been published in the Southern Region Water Resources Strategy. These principles and policies were established through extensive consultation and are outlined below.

5.3.1. Precautionary Principle

Where there has been uncertainty, the Agency has refused licences, or issued them with time limits or restrictive conditions on the grounds of the ‘precautionary principle’. Precaution is now an established principle of environmental governance and, in the face of risks to health or the environment, it involves acting to avoid serious or irreversible potential harm despite lack of scientific certainty.

5.3.2. Presumption against Consumptive Groundwater Abstractions

There has been a policy of ‘presumption against’ further consumptive abstraction from most of the chalk aquifers of the Region since the mid-1980s, following a history of rising demand for water and serious concerns over environmental impacts expressed by stakeholder committees. This policy was subsequently adopted by the Regional Water Resources Strategy.

5.3.3. Presumption against Consumptive summer surfacewater Abstractions

For most surface water catchments there is also a ‘presumption against’ further summer consumptive abstraction. Where possible, potential abstractors are encouraged to apply to take water in the winter and provide reservoir storage from which they can use water in the summer.

5.3.4. Revocation of unused abstraction licenses

A key aspect of the strategy is the need to recover unused licenses or portions of licences to correct past over-licensing. This will help secure protection of the water environment, simplify the resources balance and clarify the potential for new licences across all sectors of abstraction. This policy has already been pursued successfully by the Agency in this area for a number of years.


Proposed licensing strategy

5


5.4. Catchment overview of proposed licensing strategyThis document outlines the licensing strategy for the Test and Itchen CAMS area. The strategy provides an indication of whether licences are likely to be available and the conditions that should be expected. Where problems or potential problems have been identified, it sets out actions to address them. However, anyone is entitled to apply for a licence, even if the strategy indicates that there may not be water available.

When considering issue and renewal of licences, the licence holder must demonstrate:

This strategy only relates to licences which have a net impact on the environment. These are likely to be licences where the water is used and not returned to the catchment. Non-consumptive licences will generally be considered in all water resource management units subject to environmental assessment and the three tests above.

The Agency operates a rigorous enforcement policy and inspections are regularly carried out to ensure licence holders are meeting the conditions of their licences.

5.4.1. Water Efficiency

The Agency will require all present and future abstractors of water to employ water efficient methods to reduce the demand for water. These are largely a matter of common sense, involving thinking about the ways water is used and then targeting for reduction. These methods are summarised in the Regional Strategy and details are given on the Agency’s demand management website – www.environmentagency.gov.uk/savewater.

5.4.2. Groundwater licences

The chalk aquifer supplies licensed abstractions and also supports baseflow to the Rivers Test and Itchen and most of their tributaries. After surface water considerations all but two groundwater units have been over-ridden to “No Water Available”. The exception are the Allbrook and Highbridge chalk which is “Over-Abstracted” and the Anton chalk

which has been over-ridden to “Over-Licensed”. The Agency proposes to continue with a presumption against issuing further consumptive abstraction licences from the unconfined chalk.

There is no policy for abstraction from other minor aquifers including the confined chalk. Local investigation will be required to determine potential environmental impacts and impacts on other abstractors and applications will be determined on their own merits.

5.4.3. surface Water licences

Water resource availability calculated for most rivers in the CAMS area generally shows that there is no water available or that the rivers are over licensed or over abstracted. In accordance with regional policy, for many years there has been a presumption against issuing consumptive abstraction licences for summer surface water.

Winter storage licences have been and may continue to be granted for direct river abstraction, subject to determination, between November 1st and March 31st with appropriate flow and level conditions. This position is supported by the recent assessment of water resource availability. In recent years, the Agency has issued winter storage licences for abstraction when flows between November 1st and March 31st exceed the median winter flow. This is the flow that is exceeded on average for 50% of the time and is known as the Q50. High winter flows are recognised as being important to the ecology of streams and rivers and are needed to clean fish spawning gravels and to promote migration of fish. Using the precautionary principle and recognising that the rivers in the CAMS are already heavily committed to abstraction, the median winter flow was selected as an appropriate “hands off” flow condition.

Many existing surface water abstractions issued before 1989 do not have conditions restricting their use in periods of low flow. Spray irrigation, if not from a reservoir filled in winter, can represent a very significant demand on rivers when they are low in summer. Section 57 of the Water Resources Act gives the Agency powers to impose a temporary restriction on spray irrigators if there has been an exceptional shortage of rain.

5.4.4. Impoundments

Applications for new impoundments are dealt with on a case by case basis. In all cases, licence applications will be considered under the requirements of the Water Resources Act 1991 as amended by the Water Act 2003. Local issues of derogation and

1. The need for water

2. The efficient use of water

3. There is no environmental damage caused by the abstraction

environmental impact will always be assessed and may override the status of the catchment defined in this CAMS.

5.4.5. Time limits

Licences applied for or varied after 1st October 2001 are time limited under provisions of the Water Act 2003. For the Test and Itchen CAMS area the common end date for the for renewals of time-limited licences is at present 31 March 2013. The normal renewal period will be 12 years although in certain circumstances the Agency may consider issuing licences for longer time periods. Similarly if there is local uncertainty or need for further investigation a shorter time limit may be appropriate. There is a presumption of renewal of licences subject to the previously mentioned three tests although licence conditions may be reviewed.

Licence holders will be notified that their licence will expire and will be expected to re-apply for their licence. The Agency will endeavour to give six years notice if a licence is not to be renewed or renewed but on more restrictive terms which impact significantly on the use of that licence. Time limits on non-damaging time-limited licences will be changed to reflect the next reasonable common end date for the catchment. It should be noted that most existing licences are not time limited so the above opportunities to change conditions are limited. Abstraction licences which could have an impact on Habitats Directive sites may have a time limit related to the review of consents timetable. Further details on time limits are available in Managing Water Abstraction.

5.4.6. Policy for River Itchen sAC

Work is currently being completed to consider the need for any changes to abstraction licences to ensure that the River Itchen SAC is in favourable condition by 2010. When complete, this work may lead to changes in the Agency’s policies for new abstraction licences in the Itchen catchment. These policies will be published for consultation in the next Test and Itchen CAMS review commencing in 2010.

In the interim, best science obtained from the Habitats Directive work will be applied when considering all licence applications, variations or renewals in the Itchen catchment. Where licences have the potential to have an adverse effect on the integrity of the River Itchen, an Appropriate Assessment will be required to consider the impact of the abstraction in some detail.

5.4.7. summary of licensing Policy

• The Agency will retain the existing policy of a presumption against issuing consumptive licences from the chalk.

• There will be a presumption against issuing licences for summer consumptive abstraction from surface water.

• The Agency will consider applications for winter storage abstractions from surface water between November and March. A “hands-off flow” of a winter Q50 is likely to be applied for consumptive use.

• Non-consumptive licences will generally be considered subject to environmental assessment and meeting the three tests of: need for water, making efficient use of water and not causing any environmental damage.

• New licences will normally be time limited to expire with a common end date of 31 March 2013, with a normal renewal period of 12 years.

• The impact of variations and applications for new licences on the River Itchen SAC will be considered and an Appropriate Assessment may be required in support of applications for new licences.

• Where groundwater abstractions lie within the groundwater catchment for the Test and Itchen but within the Agency’s Thames or South West Regions, the licences will be issued by that region.

5.4.�. Introduction to Management Units

Figure 10 shows the units for which water resource availability has been calculated and a strategy has been defined. A generic strategy has also been proposed for areas outside defined management units. Full details of Assessment Point and Groundwater Water Management Unit results within each WRMU are shown in the Technical Document. The following sections outline a strategy for each Water Resource Management Unit (WRMU).


5.5.1. Description

This unit covers the main River Itchen from its source to the gauging station at Easton and includes the Cheriton Stream and the River Alre which are two of the three chalk headwater streams of the Itchen. These headwaters, and in particular the winterbourne reaches, are an important element of the classic chalk stream ecology for which most of the River Itchen has been designated SSSI, and parts of it, SAC status too. The groundwater included in the unit extends far beyond the surface water catchment and extends nearly to Alton. The area is mostly arable and pasture with the town of Alresford in its midst which is famous as the centre of the watercress industry. The only public water supply (PWS) affecting the unit’s groundwater is that at Lasham, near Alton in the Agency’s Thames Region. The main purposes of abstraction are for the non-consumptive uses of fishfarming and watercress cultivation with only a very small proportion for agricultural and industrial use. The Alre Augmentation Scheme, which is one of two such schemes used to augment flow in the lower reaches of Itchen, discharges into the Alre near Alresford. Statutory water quality objectives are generally meeting their “Very Good” targets although there are some concerns over phosphorus levels. It is widely accepted that the upper Itchen is one of the best examples of wild brown trout fisheries in the country.

5.5.2. sustainability Appraisal Conclusions

The status of the assessment points and groundwater units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Water Available”. They were over-ridden to “No Water Available” in order to protect flows in the Lower Itchen which are “Over-Abstracted”.

The preferred option is to remain at “No Water Available” to ensure that the downstream flows in the Lower Itchen are maintained.

5.5.3. Guidance on the assessment of new licences

There will be a presumption against issuing licences for summer consumptive abstraction from surface water.

The Agency will retain the existing policy of a presumption against issuing consumptive licences from the chalk.

The Agency will consider applications for abstractions from surface water between November and March using winter storage. A “hands-off flow” of a winter Q50 is likely to be applied.

Non-consumptive licences will generally be considered subject to environmental assessment and meeting the three tests of: need for water, making efficient use of water and not causing any environmental damage.



Figure 12

Figure 14

Watercress20%

Industrial<1%

Agriculture<1%

Public Water Supply

1%

Augmentation4%Other

<1%

Fishfarming74%


Augmentation1%

Watercress42%

Fishfarming21%

5.5. WRMU 1 Upper Itchen – “No Water Available”

Figure 12 – WRMU Licence Volume by Purpose


New licences will normally be time limited to expire with a common end date of 31 March 2013, with a normal renewal period of 12 years.

The impact of new licences on the River Itchen SAC will be considered and an Appropriate Assessment may be required in support of applications for new licences.

Where groundwater abstractions lie within the groundwater catchment for this unit, but within the Agency’s Thames Region, the licences will be issued by that region. The area affected is shown as hatched in the map above.

5.5.4. Renewals and management of existing licences

There will be a presumption of renewal of licences subject to the other renewal criteria and local considerations. Licence conditions may be subject to minor changes including the addition of water efficiency conditions.

The Agency is currently carrying out a review of existing abstraction licences which could have an impact on the River Itchen SAC. Where licences need to be affirmed, revoked or modified, the licence holder will be informed.

No licence within the unit has a “hands-off flow” condition.

Figure 11 - Map of WRMU

5.6.1. Description

This unit covers the Candover Stream from its source in Chilton Candover to its confluence with the main River Itchen near Alresford. The stream usually rises around Northington in the summer months but can flow from Preston Candover in wet years. It is a classic chalk stream forming part of the River Itchen SSSI, part of which is also an SAC. It is particularly noteworthy for its population of white-clawed crayfish, this reach supporting the last remnant of what was once a population extending throughout much of the catchment. It is also famed for its wild brown trout fisheries. Most land within the unit is arable and pasture although agriculture accounts for only a very small proportion of abstraction. There is one public water supply within the unit from groundwater at Totford which accounts for nearly a quarter of licensed abstraction. Although located outside of the unit, the public water supply abstraction at Lasham also has an impact. The main source of abstraction within the unit is the large watercress farm located on the outskirts of Alresford, the discharge of which contributes significantly to the flow of the lower stream. The Candover Augmentation Scheme is one of two schemes used to augment flow in the lower reaches of the Itchen and discharges just downstream of Northington. Statutory water quality objectives are generally meeting their “Very Good” targets although there are some concerns over phosphorus levels.



Figure 12

Figure 14

Watercress20%

Industrial<1%

Agriculture<1%

Public Water Supply

1%

Augmentation4%Other

<1%

Fishfarming74%


Augmentation1%

Watercress42%

Fishfarming21%


5.6. WRMU 2 Candover – “No Water Available”


The status of the assessment points and groundwater units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Water Available”. They were over-ridden to “No Water Available” in order to protect flows in the Lower Itchen which are “Over-Abstracted”.

The preferred option is to remain at “No Water Available” to ensure that the downstream flows in the Lower Itchen are maintained.

5.6.3. Guidance on the assessment of new licences





New licences will normally be time limited to expire with a common end date of 2013, with a normal renewal period of 12 years.


Where groundwater abstractions lie within the groundwater catchment for this unit, but within the Agency’s Thames Region, the licences will be issued by that region. The area affected is shown as hatched in the above map.




There is only one licence within this unit that has a flow condition. This has a condition of no abstraction below 0.461 cumecs at a weir on the Candover Stream.



5.7.1. Description

This unit covers the main River Itchen from Easton to Riverside Park at Woodmill, Southampton. This chalk stream forms part of the River Itchen SSSI which is also a SAC, designated in recognition for its nationally and internationally important flora and fauna in the river and its floodplain and associated ditches. The upper reaches, near to Winchester city centre, include the Winnal Moors Wildlife Reserve. As the Itchen flows over Tertiary deposits and becomes more urban it picks up small tributaries. The river is extremely braided within this unit and shares the valley with the Itchen Navigation, an historic trade route which linked Winchester with Southampton. Although this reach has swathes of countryside it also flows through the large urban areas of Winchester, Eastleigh and Southampton. Public Water Supply dominates abstraction accounting for nearly 85% of the total licensed quantity. The two main sources are Otterbourne in the mid-reaches and Gaters Mill in the lower reaches. There are also a number of fish farms and one watercress bed within the unit. The major discharge from the Waste Water Treatment Works near Eastleigh requires the operation of the previously mentioned augmentation schemes for dilution purposes during severe droughts. Statutory water quality objectives are generally meeting their “Good” targets although soluble phosphorus standards have been significantly exceeded within this unit.

These reaches of the River Itchen represent one of only a handful of chalk stream salmon fisheries to be found in the country. Salmon stocks historically spawned successfully right through the river but are currently restricted to comparatively short stretches in the Bishopstoke and Winchester areas.

This Habitats Directive site is in unfavourable condition and the River Itchen Sustainability Study(RISS) considered connected issues in respect of landcare, fisheries, water quality and water level and water resource management.


The status of the assessment points and groundwater units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Over-Abstracted”. The Habitats Regulations Review of Consents is due to report on 31 March 2006 with an action plan to restore sustainable abstraction and return the SAC to favourable condition. It is anticipated that by returning the SAC to favourable condition, the status of the unit will change to “No Water Available”. The conclusion of the sustainability appraisal is to move towards “No Water Available” by implementing this action plan which is described in section 3.9.3 above.



Figure 16

Figure 18


Agriculture<1%

Industrial<1% Watercress

3%Fishfarming

12%

Other<1%

Other<1%

Industrial15%

Fishfarming23%

Watercress46%

Public Water Supply

4%Augmentation

10%Agriculture

1%

5.7. WRMU 3 Lower Itchen – “Over-Abstracted”


5.7.3. Guidance on the assessment of new applications










There is only one licence within this unit that has a “hands-off flow” condition of no abstraction below 4.1cumecs at Easton gauging station.

5.7.5. Resource recovery strategy and other changes to existing licences

The Action Plan defined as a result of the Habitats Regulations Review of Consents will determine the extent of any resource recovery required. When this work is complete, appropriate licence changes may be implemented which will reduce the impact of abstraction on the River Itchen.

Until the Action Plan is agreed and implemented, it would be premature to propose a new policy for this

unit so the existing licensing policies will continue to apply.


5.�.1. Description

This unit covers the main River Test from its source at Ashe near Overton to the gauging station at Chilbolton and includes the River Dever. The chalk groundwater catchments associated with these are also included. The rivers within this unit are part of the River Test SSSI, particularly important for its ecology associated with headwaters and intermittent chalk stream habitats. The area also includes Bransbury Common and Chilbolton Common SSSIs. The unit is mostly rural arable and pasture land, the main urban areas being Overton and Whitchurch. There are a large number of former water meadow systems, some of which are in the process of restoration. The majority of abstraction is for non-consumptive use with fish farming and watercress cultivation accounting for most licensed use. Portals paper mill at Overton is also a major abstractor and employs a significant number of people. The four public water supply sources within the unit are licensed to abstract a relatively small amount of water usually discharged at local sewage treatment works. Statutory water quality objectives are largely achieving their “Very Good” and “Good” targets although phosphorus levels need careful management. Fisheries located within this unit, along with the Mid Test unit have the reputation of being some of the most valuable trout fisheries in the country.

5.�.2. sustainability Appraisal Conclusions

The status of the assessment points and groundwater units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Water Available”. They were over-ridden to “No Water Available” in order to protect flows in the Lower Test which are “Over-Licensed”.

The preferred option is to remain at “No Water Available” to ensure that the downstream flows in the Lower Test are maintained.

5.�.3. Guidance on the assessment of new applications







Figure 16

Figure 18


Agriculture<1%

Industrial<1% Watercress

3%Fishfarming

12%

Other<1%

Other<1%

Industrial15%

Fishfarming23%

Watercress46%

Public Water Supply

4%Augmentation

10%Agriculture

1%


5.8. WRMU 4 Upper Test – “No Water Available”


5.�.4. Renewals and management of existing licences


There is only one licence within this unit that has a flow condition. This winter licence has a “hands-off flow” condition of no abstraction below 5.3 cumecs at Chilbolton gauging station.



The status of the assessment points and groundwater units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Water Available”. They were over-ridden to “No Water Available” in order to protect flows in the Lower Test which are “Over-Licensed” and to allow investigation of the causes of observed ecological stress on some reaches of the Bourne.

The preferred option is to remain at “No Water Available” to ensure that the downstream flows in the Lower Test are maintained.






5.9.1. Description

This unit covers the Bourne Rivulet from its source near Upton to its confluence with the main River Test at Hurstbourne Priors and has a long winterbourne reach. It includes the groundwater catchment associated with the river. This headwater, in particular the winterbourne reach, is an important element of the classic chalk stream ecology, for which the area is renowned. This is a very rural unit and although it does not form part of the River Test SSSI is part of the North Wessex AONB. The main village settlements follow its valley and are Hurstbourne Tarrant, St Mary Bourne and Hurstbourne Priors. The majority of licensed abstraction within the unit is for watercress cultivation located at St Mary Bourne and are the largest beds in Europe. The associated washing and packing facility provides significant employment in the area. Although pumping is thought to affect the intermittent reach upstream of the beds the discharge significantly augments the flow downstream. There is a single public water supply in the unit which is located at Ibthorpe. Although compliance with statutory water quality objectives is generally “Very Good” the level of phosphorus is elevated and some local issues are being investigated in respect of the ecology. Although comparatively lightly fished, the Bourne enjoys a reputation as a wild trout fishery through various references in angling literature.


Figure 20

Figure 22

Industrial<1% Other

<1%

Agriculture<1%

Fishfarming49%

Watercress23%


Other<1%

Industrial<1%%

Agriculture2%


Watercress80%


5.9. WRMU 5 Bourne – “No Water Available”





There are no licences with flow conditions in this unit.

5.9.5. local Actions

The Resource Assessment process found that low flows were observed to be impacting the ecology of some reaches of the Bourne. There is uncertainty as to the level of impact the cress bed pumping downstream of these reaches has on flows. The issue has therefore been included on the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction (RSA) programme. This will involve an extension of the ecological monitoring, already in place in respect of water quality issues, and hydrogeological investigations.


Figure 19- Map of WRMU Figure 20 - WRMU Licence Volume by Purpose

four public water supply sources within the unit which are split between the two army garrison supplies near Tidworth, the disused source at Faberstown and the major source at Andover supplying that town. A major issue is the fact that Andover’s waste water treatment works (WWTW) at Fullerton discharges into the River Test rather than augmenting the flows of the lower reaches of the River Anton. Statutory water quality objectives are achieving their “Very Good” targets. There is a public perception that flows in the Anton are lower than historically experienced.


Local abstraction issues have been raised relating to the impacts of Andover Public Water Supply on the upper Anton and the fact that the Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) at Fullerton discharges into the Test rather than the Anton. Current abstraction levels could increase by around 55% before the unit is assessed as over abstracted.

There are uncertainties as to what effect abstraction is having on the ecology of this unit. Until this is further investigated it is proposed to remain at “Over- Licensed”.

Whilst remaining at “Over-Licensed” the following options were considered:

40

5.10.1. Description

This unit covers the River Anton from its source just north of Andover to its confluence with the main River Test just south of Chilbolton. It includes the Pillhill Brook and the associated chalk groundwater catchment which extends into the Agency’s South West Region around Tidworth. The headwaters of the River Anton flow through the urban area of Andover before it is joined by the Pillhill Brook at Upper Clatford. The rest of the unit is largely rural. In the town the river flows through Anton Lakes and Rooksbury Mill, both of which are local recreation amenities. The Anton, although not designated, is an important chalk stream habitat. However many parts of the river channel, especially through Andover, are heavily engineered with encroachment of development upon the floodplain. Ecologically this has led to impoverished plant and insect life although a small population of native crayfish persists. Locally in the upper reaches low flows could be contributing to this. The Anton and Pillhill Brook both support trout and grayling fisheries and additionally the Upper Anton in Andover has several on-line stillwater coarse fisheries. Occasional salmon also migrate up the Anton in autumn to spawn. Almost half of licensed abstraction is for fish farming and fishing lakes with nearly a quarter for watercress cultivation, all of which are classed as non-consumptive use. The Pillhill Brook has major cressbeds at Monxton Viaduct. There are



Figure 20

Figure 22

Industrial<1% Other

<1%

Agriculture<1%

Fishfarming49%

Watercress23%


Other<1%

Industrial<1%%

Agriculture2%


Watercress80%


5.10. WRMU 6 Anton – “Over-Licensed”

41

Option 1 – Maintain current licensing policy

Simply maintaining the existing licensing policy will not address concerns about local abstraction issues in this unit so is not selected as an option.

Option 2 – Maintain current licensing policy, ratify resource assessment results and if necessary investigate actions to resolve.

Option 2 was selected with existing licensing policies continuing to apply.







Where groundwater abstractions lie within the groundwater catchment for this unit, but within the Agency’s South West Region, the licences will be issued by that region. The area affected is shown as hatched in the above map.



No licence within the unit is subject to flow conditions.


No resource recovery will be implemented at present until further investigation has taken place. As a

result of the concerns raised the Agency will add the Anton to the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction (RSA) programme. The Agency will undertake more detailed investigations into the ecological effects of abstraction. The investigations are likely to include consideration of the effect of the Andover Public Water Supply abstraction and the Fullerton waste water treatment works discharge to the River Test.




5.11.1. Description

This unit covers the River Blackwater from its source in the Whiteparish area to its confluence with the River Test at Testwood and includes its tributary, the Cadnam River. Their characteristics differ from those of the chalk streams forming the remaining Test catchment. They bear more affinity to New Forest streams which have a much more flashy response to rainfall. The Blackwater is of high nature conservation value, despite lacking nature conservation designations. Its flood plain supports neutral and base-poor flood plain grasslands, swamp and bog habitats, many of which are also rich in species. It also contains good examples of riverine alder woodland and transitions to valley-side ancient semi-natural woodland.

The unit is largely rural with the Cadnam River flowing through the northern extremities of the New Forest and through woodland. Licensed abstraction within the unit has a different profile to the rest of the Test. Two thirds of abstraction is for the Paultons Adventure Park amenity lake whilst a number of golf courses use spray irrigation, about half with winter storage reservoirs. There is also a significant amount of spray irrigation for agricultural and horticultural use. In the Wellow area there is a significant amount of presently exempt trickle irrigation which will require licences in the next few years. There are no public water supply sources within the unit. Statutory

water quality objectives in the area are targetted at “Good” to “Fair” but are frequently not being met. The Blackwater is primarily a low-key coarse fishery although it is important as a spawning and nursery habitat for sea trout. The Broadlands fish farm carrier brings chalk stream water from the Test into the Blackwater near Testwood, augmenting its flow.



The preferred option is to remain at “No Water Available” to ensure that the flows in the Lower Test are maintained.



Flows in the River Blackwater respond more quickly to rainfall than the nearby chalk streams and there is better scope for capturing high flows for winter storage. Due to these different characteristics it is considered reasonable to allow abstraction for winter


Figure 24

Figure 26

Other66%

Industrial14%

Agriculture20%

Industrial<1%

Fishfarming68%


Agriculture<1%


5.11. WRMU 7 Blackwater – “No Water Available”


storage when flows are above the winter Q95 flow of 0.2 cumecs as recorded at the gauging station at Ower.





Five licences within this unit have “hands-off flow” conditions requiring abstraction to cease when flows fall below the respective level. Four are linked to Ower gauging station on the River Blackwater. Two licences have a “hands-off flow” of the all year Q95 of 0.16 cumecs and the remaining two have a “hands-off flow” of the winter Q95 of 0.2 cumecs. The remaining licence has a “hands-off flow” at Broadlands gauging station of 4.60 cumecs.



5.12.1. Description

This unit covers the main River Test from Timsbury north of Romsey to Redbridge at the mouth of Southampton Water and includes the Tadburn Stream. The majority of the middle section flows through pasture land and former water meadows whilst the lower section flows through the outskirts of Totton and Southampton. This part of the Test differs in character from the chalk upper reaches in that it flows over Tertiary deposits.

The main river forms part of the River Test SSSI with the Lower Test Nature Reserve forming part of the Solent and Southampton Water SPA/Ramsar and the Solent Maritime SAC. The lower reaches of the Test show well developed transitions from fen meadow through brackish flood plain grassland to saltmarsh and reed bed which are dependent upon the balance between fresh water input and the tidal influence.

Abstraction is approximately split between two thirds licensed for non-consumptive fish farming and a third for public water supply at Testwood. Water is supplied from Testwood, through a cross-Solent pipeline, to the Isle of Wight where it meets up to a quarter of the Island’s requirements. Testwood supplies approximately 600,000 people in south Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. There is also a pipeline supplying Fawley refinery. Testwood is an important strategic resource and will be used to meet future demands for water in large parts of South

Hampshire. In addition, if reductions in abstraction are required on the River Itchen, it is likely that abstraction will increase at Testwood.

The river system is complex in this reach and Figure 27 shows a simplified map of the main flow distribution. The main river Test splits into two major channels known as the Great Test and Little Test which through arbitration have been subject to a flow ratio of 2:1. In practice, the flow is rarely divided according to this ratio. Broadlands Fish Farm carrier diverts flow from the Test at Broadlands into the River Blackwater and Nursling Fish Farm also diverts water from the main river. As a result of these flow splits, a large proportion of total flow bypasses the main public water supply intake at Testwood. This results in low flows immediately downstream of the intake before the River Blackwater and Nursling Fish Farm discharge bring water back to the Great Test. The river enters the Lower Test Nature Reserve in two main channels.

Statutory water quality objectives in this unit are largely achieving their “Very Good” and “Good” targets.

The Lower Test has a long history of being managed as a salmon as well as trout fishery. The three major fisheries are those at Nursling, Broadlands Estate and Testwood. The Test is one of only a handful of chalk rivers supporting a viable salmon run and there are issues relating to upstream migration patterns.


Figure 24

Figure 26

Other66%

Industrial14%

Agriculture20%

Industrial<1%

Fishfarming68%


Agriculture<1%


5.12. WRMU 8 Lower Test – “Over-Licensed”


Figure 27 – lower Test River system

GreatTest

AP14 Timsbury Bridge GS

AP18 Ower GS

Nursling Fish Farm

Testwood Intake

AP17 Testwood

Blackwater

River Test

Test Back Carrier

Little Test

River Test

Broadlands FishFarm

Cadnam River

Fish Farm

Carrier

AP15 Blackwater TotalLower Test Nature

Reserve

AP16 Test Total

Coleridge Split

Carrier



The resource assessment has concluded that the Lower Test is over-licensed. This implies that abstraction is not causing environmental damage at the moment but if abstraction increased within existing licences, environmental damage may occur. Current abstraction levels could increase by around 15% before the unit is assessed as over abstracted. The status of this unit also causes the status of all upstream units to be over-ridden to no water available.

It is apparent that the combination of large abstractions and flow divisions results in a complex water resources situation. Given the importance of the public water supply abstraction in this unit, it is vital that the impact of abstractions is determined before any actions are taken, so the Agency has decided that the unit will remain over-licensed within the first CAMS cycle. This has minimal risk for the environment as damage is not assessed to be occurring under current levels of abstraction. Two options were proposed to maintain the current status:

Option 1 – Maintain current licensing policy

Simply maintaining the existing licensing policy will not address concerns about local abstraction issues in this unit so is not selected as an option.

Option 2 – Maintain current licensing policy and investigate the impacts of abstraction and flow arrangements of the lower Test.

It is vital to consider in more detail the complex situation in the Lower Test before abstraction increases.

Option 2 is proposed with existing licensing policies continuing to apply.








The public water supply abstraction at Testwood has a “hands-off flow” condition of 1.05 cumecs. The condition is related to the aggregate of flows at Ower gauging station, Testwood gauging station and the Nursling Fish Farm carrier.


To address the complex issues in the Lower Test, the Agency needs to address the key questions stated below:

• Is the river downstream of the Testwood Public Water Supply intake affected by current levels of abstraction and is it vulnerable to future increases in licensed abstraction?

• How should the flows be distributed between the various channels under both current conditions and under fully licensed abstraction conditions to meet the various demands of the lower Test system?

In order to address these issues the Agency will need to carry out further work to look at abstraction impacts in the Lower Test. It is hoped that the results of the River Itchen Sustainability Study and the additional review of consents can be used to inform work to assess abstraction impacts on the Lower Test.

The Agency will also need to look in detail at the way flows are split in the Lower Test and consider if these flow splits are operating in the most effective way. There should be sufficient water in each channel to support a variety of demands such as in-stream habitats, abstraction requirements, appropriate dilution of discharges, the requirements of migratory fish and the habitat needs of the Lower Test Nature reserve. In particular, consideration should be given to:

• the flow split between the Great Test and Little Test,

• the large volume of water flowing down the Broadlands Fish Farm carrier

• the large, partially unused licence at Nursling Fish Farm

• the “hands-off flow” conditions in the unit.


5.13.1. Description

This unit covers the main River Test from Chilbolton to Timsbury north of Romsey. It includes the Wallop Brook, the River Dun, Somborne Stream and the associated chalk groundwater catchments. The middle Test valley is characterised by a number of wetland SSSIs which are important separately and in particular as a diverse collection of floodplain wetland habitats. The main river forms part of the River Test SSSI and passes through Stockbridge Fen SSSI and Stockbridge Common Marsh SSSI. The unit is mostly arable and pasture with the only sizeable town being Stockbridge in which the river is a tourist focus. The carriers and drains of the old water meadow systems again feature prominently in this unit. Virtually all licensed abstraction within the unit is for non-consumptive fish farming. There are three public water supply abstractions within the unit at West Tytherley, Timsbury and Horsebridge. There is very little abstraction on the River Dun and the Wallop Brook. The waste water treatment works (WWTW) draining Andover discharges into the the northern section of the unit above Leckford. Statutory water quality objectives within the unit are achieving their “Very Good” and “Good” targets. Fisheries in this area are among some of the most famous and valuable in the country. Their status and reputation as a dry-fly trout fishery attract anglers from all over the world.



The preferred option is to remain at “No Water Available” to ensure that the flows in the Lower Test are maintained.




The Agency will retain the existing policy of a presumption against issuing consumptive licences from the chalk


5.13. WRMU 9 Mid Test – “No Water Available”


Figure 29

Industrial<1%

Agriculture<1%

Other<1%

Augmentation<1%

Fishfarming94%

Public Water Supply

4%






There are 3 licences within this unit with “hands-off flow” conditions. Two are winter abstractions and linked to Chilbolton gauging station on the River Test with “hands-off flows” of 4.6 and 5.3 cumecs. The remaining licence is all year and linked to Broadlands gauging station with a “hands-off flow” of 5.77 cumecs.


4�


5.14. Remaining CAMS Area not within an WRMU

5.14.1. Description

The majority of the CAMS area is within a Water Resource Management Unit. Streams that the CAMS does not address are the Monks Brook at Eastleigh, Tanners Brook flowing through Millbrook in Southampton and other small coastal, urban streams.



The Agency will consider applications for winter storage abstractions from surface water between November and March. A “hands-off flow” of a winter Q50 is likely to be applied.





5.15. Opportunities for licence trading in the Test & Itchen CAMS One of the objectives of the CAMS process is to facilitate water rights trading. The term “water rights trading” refers to the transferring of licensable water rights from one party to another, for benefit. It involves a voluntarily movement of a right to abstract water between abstractors, using the abstraction licensing process. More detailed information is available in ‘Managing Water Abstraction’.

A guidance leaflet (Water Rights Trading) was published and sent to Licence Holders towards the

end of 2002 explaining the scope for water rights trading within current legislation. Consultation on more detailed proposals followed in 2003. After considering the responses to this consultation exercise, further information will be made available to update Licence Holders on the Agency’s conclusions for a detailed framework within which water rights trading will take place. This information and guidance will be timed to coincide with the expected implementation of the sections of the Water Act 2003 that are most relevant to trading. Further information on Water Rights Trading is available on the Environment Agency web site (www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres).

5.16. The Water Act 2003Following the first major review of the abstraction licensing system since its inception in 1963, the Government set out, in 1999, a new framework for managing water resources. The CAMS process and the move to time limited licences are key elements of the new framework, which is completed by revisions to the statutory framework introduced by the Water Act 2003. The Act updates the Water Resources Act 1991 in several key areas:

• Deregulation of small abstractions

• New controls on previously exempt abstractions for mine and quarry dewatering, trickle and other forms of irrigation, transfers into canals and internal drainage districts

• Stronger powers for water resources planning and management

• Changes to the legal status of abstraction licences

• More flexibility to the licensing regulations to improve its efficiency and to encourage trading

• Stronger powers on water conservation

For more details on the Act and its implementation, see the Agency’s web-site, www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

The Agency web site will be updated to provide information as the Water Act is implemented.

49


6.1. Planning Water ResourcesThe Environment Agency and water companies work together to plan the management of water resources for the future. This results in strategies at a number of levels which include the following:

6.1.1. Environment Agency strategies

The Environment Agency published National and Regional Water Resources Strategies in March 2001. The National Strategy defines the abstraction licensing framework at high level while the strategy for Southern Region “Water resources for the future – a strategy for Southern Region” identifies a preferred approach to meet the demand for water whilst protecting the environment in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Sussex and Kent. Each strategy looks some 25 years ahead and considers the need of public water supply, agriculture, commerce and industry as well as the environment. Progress of the Regional and National Strategy is reviewed annually. New information on water supply and demand, particularly in respect to public water supply, will be assessed through this process. New information on forecast growth in housing and climate change are particular issues being monitored.

Assumptions are made about the potential development of new resources, the realistic potential for savings in forecast water use and the cut backs required to maintain or restore sustainable abstraction in some areas. Key principles underlying the regional strategy include:

• Promoting efficient water use by industry, commerce, agriculture and in the home.

• Making best use of available water resources before developing new schemes.

• Taking account of the potential impact of climate change.

• Requiring water companies to explore the economic and environmental benefits of leakage control, metering and water efficiency measures,with all licence applications.

• Refusing new abstraction or impoundment licences to companies with poor leakage or water efficiency statistics and activity.

• Encouragement of water company bulk transfers and sharing of resources between areas of surplus and deficit and other increased “integration”, providing there are no adverse effects.

• Future strategic resource developments should ideally be shared resources benefiting more than one company.

6.1.2. Water Company Water Resource Plans

At the Water Summit in May 1997 the Government set out its expectations for the water industry. The Deputy Prime Minister announced a range of initiatives including leakage reduction and water efficiency measures. To support these initiatives, the Environment Agency asked water companies to prepare water resources plans. These compare and balance the water resources available (supply) against the water required to meet the population’s needs (demand) forecast over 25 years.

The first of these plans were submitted as part of the 1999 periodic review process. Companies reported progress annually against these plans to the Environment Agency. The water resources plans were then revised and resubmitted as part of the 2004 periodic review process. The main proposals for Hampshire are summarised in Section 6.4.

The Water Act 2003 amends the Water Industry Act 1991 such that water companies will now have a statutory duty to prepare, consult upon and publish Water Resource Management Plans. Water companies will submit their plans to Ministers in 2009.

The new procedure for the submission of Water Resource Management Plans involves a number of new stages including consultation, consideration of commercially confidential information and publication. Regulations for the plans come into force in November 2006 following the commencement of duty order in October 2006. Companies will produce draft plans for consultation in early 2008 and their final plans by June 2009.

50

6

Future developments in the CAMS area


Reductions in abstraction licences required by the Habitats Regulations Review of Consents are a reflection of Hampshire’s high quality environment. The Agency’s Southern Region is investigating the viability of new or enlarged reservoirs in the region and includes one at Havant Thicket in Hampshire. Together with further work on water efficiency supported by new duties on all public bodies in the Water Act 2003, this is part of the Agency’s twin track approach to water resource management.

6.2. Promoting Water EfficiencyWater efficiency measures help to reduce water demand. As such throughout this CAMS area, the Agency will seek to reduce water demand by promoting water efficiency. This will be achieved through methods, polices and principles set out in the National and Regional Water Resources Strategies. Water companies also have a duty under the Water Industry Act (1991), amended by the Environment Act (1995), to promote the efficient use of water by their customers and ensure that their own use of water is efficient. They also have a new duty under the Water Act 2003 to ‘further water conservation’ It is clear that there will have to be a change in approach to the use of water in the south-east. In the face of increased rates of development and climate change, new and re-fitted houses will have to be more water-efficient to protect water supplies and the environment. In practice, installing water-saving taps, WCs, showers and washing machines incurs no extra costs and promotes sustainable lifestyles. Standards for the use of water in the home are set out in the emerging Code for Sustainable Homes (based on BRE EcoHomes), but if these measures are not adopted voluntarily by all planning authorities and developers then building regulations will have to be changed.

6.2.1. Water metering

Metering can reduce water consumption by between 2% and 14%, depending upon volumetric charge. The Agency’s Southern Region Water Resources Strategy assumes that in 2025 a water meters will be installed in a minimum of 50–75% households in Hampshire. The current take up for Southern Water’s Hampshire resource zones combined is around 23% (based on figures for 2004/5 reported in Southern Water’s Annual Review submitted to the Environment Agency in June 2005). There is a long way to go to get to the levels that the Agency judges to be necessary to secure long term supplies and help protect the environment. However, the required 2025 metering levels are achievable within the opportunities that water companies have to meter within current legislation.

These opportunities are:

• Provision on request of a free meter

• Metering of new homes

• Metering on change of home ownership

• Metering of users of sprinklers and other unattended watering devices

• Metering of houses with swimming pools

• Compulsory metering, if “water scarcity status” is applied for by a water company and approved by the Secretary of State

6.2.2. leakage

All water companies operating in this CAMS area have achieved their Ofwat leakage targets. The National and Regional Water Resources Strategy expects further economic leakage control progress to be made through the next 25 years.

6.2.3. Building design

Improved water efficiency should be a key component of all new housing developments, because on average only 3% of all household water consumption is actually for drinking. House builders can help reduce water consumption by installing water efficient domestic appliances, bathroom fittings and rainwater storage systems.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) is currently reviewing a requirement that all new buildings should be designed and equipped to enable them to save around 20% of per capita consumption, within a revised ‘Part H’ of the buildings regulations.

Domestic water meter


Sustainable drainage systems (or SUDS) is the practice of controlling surface water runoff as close to its origin as possible, before it is discharged to a watercourse or the ground. This involves moving away from traditional drainage systems to softer engineering solutions. The benefits are reduced flood risk, improved water quality and increased groundwater recharge. This water can also be collected and reused for non-potable purposes.

6.2.4. Water Audits

All businesses can use their water wisely. By investing a little time and money in implementing a simple water management plan, an organisation may reduce its water consumption significantly, releasing money to be invested in other parts of the business and establishing ‘green’ credentials. Water audits allow the volume of water used during an average year to be calculated and suggest ways to reduce water use and therefore costs. For more information on how you can save water, either at home or at work, please refer to the Appendix 1.

6.3. Climate ChangeClimate change is an important issue facing water resources management. The latest climate change scenarios from the UK Climate Impacts Programme suggest that temperatures will rise across England and Wales. By the 2050s, in southern England summers will become drier and winters will be wetter. This has important implications for water availability, as it will change groundwater and river regimes. For instance, rainfall is becoming both more seasonal and of increasing intensity, which could lead to higher runoff and less water able to percolate into the aquifers which supply the bulk of public water supply in this area. It is likely that direct abstractions will become less reliable in summer, which means that farmers and industries who rely on them will have to

New house building

consider adaptation, including the option of using water efficiently. The impact on public water supply is less clear but recent modelling work suggests that the deployable output of some systems will be reduced. For more information on the Agency’s ongoing work on climate change, please refer to Appendix 1 of the Regional Water Resources Strategy. More details on climate change scenarios are available at www.ukcip.org.uk/scenarios.

6.4. Water Resource Schemes relevant to the Test and Itchen CAMS AreaWater Company water resource plans submitted to the Environment Agency in March 2004 provide the current basis of understanding of the public water supply demand balance and potential future water resources schemes.

6.4.1. strategic Public Water supply Transfers

The largest consumptive abstractions from the River Test and River Itchen are for public water supply. The water abstracted is not simply used within the catchment but also forms part of the larger Hampshire and Isle of Wight area water supply system. The main public water supply transfer operations affecting the Test and Itchen catchment are summarised below and shown in Figure 30 (A more detailed technical summary is available in the Technical Document).

Portsmouth Water AbstractionPortsmouth Water is licensed to abstract up to 45 Ml/d from the River Itchen at Gaters Mill, although the average abstraction is 30 Ml/d (and has been less in recent years due to water quality issues). Once treated the water is transferred to the ‘Gosport & Waterlooville’ water resource zone of Portsmouth Water. The water company also has connections for an emergency backup to its Portsmouth and Havant Water Resource Zone.

The Cross solent mainSouthern Water operates this pipeline which currently has the capacity to transfer up to 11.85 Ml/d under the Solent from ‘Hampshire South’ to ‘Isle of Wight’ resource zone. The transfer is used to support a limited availability of water on the Isle of Wight. The supply comes from the River Test at Testwood and equates to 5% of the current available supplies of Southern Water’s ‘Hampshire South’ zone.


Cross Solent

Main

Testwood

Otterbourne

Knapp Mill

Fawley

PW abstraction

Alre AugmentationScheme

Candover AugmentationScheme

Yar AugmentationBoreholes

MedinaAugmentationBoreholes

ItchenTest

on

Riv

er M

edin

a

Easte

rn Y

ar

Can

dove

r S

trea

m

River Alre

Gaters Mill

Portsmouth

Southampton

Andover

Winchester

Cowes

Ventnor

Test & Itchen

Wey

Loddon

New Forest

East Hampshire

Isle of Wight

Hampshire Avon

Arun & Western Streams

Kennet and Pang

Newport

420000

420000

430000

430000

440000

440000

450000

450000

460000

460000

470000

470000

480000

480000

8000

0

8000

0

9000

0

9000

0

1000

00

1000

00

1100

00

1100

00

1200

00

1200

00

1300

00

1300

00

1400

00

1400

00

1500

00

1500

00

1600

00

1600

00

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Environment Agency100026380, 2006

Southern Water

Portsmouth Water

Thames Water

South East Water

Cholderton & District Water

Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water

Wessex Water

Transfers of Water

Augmentation Schemes

Inter zonal transfers

Catchment Abstraction Management boundaries

Proposed location of Havant Thicket Reservoir

Arrow indicates supply area

5 0 5 10 152.5Kilometers

Figure 30 – Main Public Water supply Transfers

Esso reserve supplySouthern Water reserves 22.7 Ml/d from Testwood for the Esso refinery at Fawley. Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water are the main suppliers to Esso. The Southern Water reserve has occasionally been called upon to supply 8 to 12 Ml/d.

Candover & Alre Augmentation schemesThese schemes are detailed in section 3.5.

6.4.2. Future options

Following assessment of forecast growth in demand and potential reductions in water available, the Agency and water companies are considering the following schemes which are relevant to this CAMS area:

• Increasing the capacity of the cross-Solent main from Testwood to the Isle of Wight

• Removing operational and process constraints and reducing process losses at waterworks

• Increasing treatment capacity at Testwood

• Increasing licence at Testwood

• Reducing abstraction at Otterbourne to meet the needs of Habitats Regulations Review of Consents

• Desalination

• Effluent re-use schemes

• Creation of a reservoir by Portsmouth Water at Havant Thicket potentially allowing water to be transferred to neighouring water companies



Post-CAMS Actions

The following table lists key actions that need to be undertaken before the next review of the Test & Itchen CAMS commencing in April 2010.

The progress of these actions will be monitored and a yearly update report produced.

Table 6 I Key Actions

Actions Who by When

Implement licence changes as required by Habitats Regulations Review of Consents on River Itchen Environment Agency 2006–2010

Undertake ecological survey to ascertain conservation value of Anton and Pillhill Brook Environment Agency 2006–2007

Conduct study to investigate hydro-ecological impact of abstraction on Anton and Pillhill Brook Environment Agency 2007–2009

Undertake ecological survey comparing reaches of Bourne Rivulet Environment Agency 2006–2008

Conduct study to investigate hydro-ecological impact of abstraction on reaches of Bourne Rivulet Environment Agency 2007–2009

Undertake ecological survey to ascertain impacts of current and potential abstraction on Lower Test Environment Agency 2006–2009

Investigate potential flow distribution solutions to abstraction impacts on Lower Test Environment Agency 2006–2010

Investigate whether Habitats Regulations Review of Consents River Itchen conclusions can be applied to River Test Environment Agency 2007–2010

7

General / all sectorsEnvironment AgencyThe Environment Agency provides a range of free guidance on water efficiency, including best practice case studies for agriculture, business, industry, public sector and the domestic consumer. Consult www.environment-agency.gov.uk/savewater or telephone 01903 832275.

Water companiesFor local water efficiency advice, contact your water company.

Portsmouth Waterwww.portsmouthwater.co.uk

southern Waterwww.southernwater.co.uk

south East Waterwww.southeastwater.co.uk.

Water Regulations Advisor serviceWRAS provides advice on the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations which prevents waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination of wholesome water. Consult www.wras.co.uk or telephone 01495 248454.

Business / CommercialEnvirowiseEnvirowise is a Government programme offering free, independent advice on practical ways for industrial and commercial SME’s (Small and Medium sized Enterprise) to minimise waste and convert turnover into profit. Envirowise has a specific water section on their site called ‘Waternet’, which includes links to guidance published around the world and a benchmarking tool. Consult

www.envirowise.gov.uk/waternet or telephone the Environment & Energy helpline: 0800 585 794.

Public sectorWatermarkWatermark is an initiative from OCGbuying.solution (part of the Office of Government Commerce in theTreasury) for public sector organisations. It has produced benchmarks for a wide range of public sector buildings and offers access to a shared savings scheme for the installation of new, water efficient, devices. Consult www.watermark.gov.uk

Water in the schoolWater in the School is a website supported by a number of water companies aimed at National Curriculum Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils and their teachers. It provides a wealth of information for pupils on how to make savings. Consult www.waterintheschool.co.uk

HospitalsWater UKWater UK has collaborated with NHS Estates and Watermark to produce Water Efficient Hospitals, an information pack to help hospitals use water wisely and save money by cutting both water and energy bills. Consult www.water.org.uk/index.php?cat=3-4701

Agriculture & HorticultureUK Irrigation Association (UKIA)The UKIA provides information on irrigation to its members and runs technical workshops. Consult www.ukia.org

DEFRA’s Rural Development service (RDs)DEFRA’s Rural Development Service provides grants for agricultural water resources management schemes under its Rural Enterprise Scheme. Consult www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/default.htm or telephone 0845 9335577.

linking Environment & Farming (lEAF)LEAF promote and develop integrated farm

management, this includes whole farm water savings. Consult www.leafuk.org


A1

Water efficiency contacts

AbstractionRemoval of water from a source of supply (surface water or groundwater).

Abstraction – ActualThe volume of water actually abstracted as opposed to the volume of water that may be abstracted under the terms of an abstraction licence. Individual abstraction records are reported to the Environment Agency each year.

Abstraction licenceThe authorisation granted by the Environment Agency under section 38 of the Water Resources Act 1991 to permit water abstraction.

AquiferA geological formation, group of formations or part of a formation that can store and transmit water in significant quantities.

Asset Management Plan (AMP)AMP are produced by the water companies for OFWAT and set out the investment programme for the water industry. These plans are drawn up through consultation with the Environment Agency and other bodies to cover a five year period.

Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)Established at a National level in 1995 as part of the Government’s commitment to conserving biodiversity made at the ‘Earth Summit’ held in Rio in 1992. The plan identified over 100 species and 14 habitats for targeted action for protection. This national plan has now been translated into local actions and the Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) focuses on habitats and species listed in the plan found in the local area.

BoreholeWell sunk into a water bearing rock from which water will be pumped.

CatchmentThe area from which precipitation and groundwater will collect and contribute to the flow of a specific river system.

ChalkA soft white fine-grained limestone which forms a major aquifer.

Conjunctive useA water supply system which relies on more than one source of water. This can include systems containing both surface water and groundwater sources.

Cyprinid fishFish of the family Cyprinidae, e.g. roach, carp, within the order of the Osteichythye. Almost entirely inhabiting freshwater, with over 3,000 species including Characins, Loaches and Carps.

Consumptive Abstraction/UseUse of water which results in a significant proportion of water abstracted not being returned either directly or indirectly to a source of supply e.g. spray irrigation.

Demand ManagementThe implementation of policies or measures which serve to control or influence the consumption or waste of water.

Deployable OutputThe output of a commissioned source or group of sources or of bulk supply as constrained by:

• Environment

• Licence, if applicable

• Pumping plant and /well/aquifer properties

• Raw water mains and/or aqueducts

• Transfer and/or output main

• Treatment

• Water quality

DerogationIn legal terms, the taking away of protected rights under the Water Resources Act due to the granting of a new licence.

Discharge ConsentA statutory document issued by the Environment Agency, which defines the legal limits and conditions on the discharge of an effluent into controlled waters.


Glossary of Terms


DroughtA general term for prolonged periods of below average rainfall resulting in low river flows and/or low recharge to groundwater, imposing significant strain on water resources and potentially the environment.

EffluentLiquid waste from industrial, agricultural or sewage plants.

Environmental WeightingAn assessment of a river’s sensitivity to abstraction based on physical characteristics, fisheries, macrophyte and macro-invertebrates for a catchment/sub-catchment.

EutrophicationEcological change caused by the addition of nutrients to freshwater eg. Phosphates, Nitrates.

Flood plainLand adjacent to a watercourse that is subject to flooding.

Gauging stationA site here the flow of a river is measured.

GrilseAn adult salmon returning to the river after one winter at sea.

GroundwaterWater which is contained in underground rocks (aquifers).

Groundwater Management Unit (GWMU)An area of aquifer delineated to allow the assessment of groundwater resources.

Groundwater Protection PolicyEnvironment Agency policy relating to groundwater recharge areas to control activities having the potential to pollute underground water.

HabitatPlace in which a species or community of species live, with characteristic plants and animals.

Habitats DirectiveThe European Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna – known as the Habitats Directive – was adopted by the European Commission in 1992. The Directive is implemented in the UK by the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994 – commonly known as the ‘Habitats Regulations’.

Hands-Off Flow (HOF)/Minimum residual flow (MRF) A condition attached to the abstraction licence so that if the flow in the river falls below the flow specified on the licence then the abstractor may be required to stop or reduce the abstraction.

HydrogeologyBranch of geology concerned with water within the Earth’s crust.

HydrologyThe study of water on and below the earth’s surface.

HydrometryThe measurement of water on or below the earth’s surface.

Hydrometric NetworkA system of sites monitoring rainfall, river flow, groundwater levels, river and lake levels and some climatic parameters. The data is used extensively for water resources management and planning, water quality and ecological protection and improvement, flood defence, flood forecasting and flood warning.

Intermittent streamA stream which flows for part of the year usually during or after winter rainfall.

IrrigationSupply (land) with water by means of artificial canals, ditches etc, especially to promote the growth of food crops.

licence of RightLicence granted under section 23 of the Water Resources Act 1963 in respect of an abstraction that was already in operation when that Act was implemented in 1965.

low flowLow flows are defined by the river flow (Q) which, under benchmark or natural conditions would be exceeded for 95% of the time (95). This is referred to as Q95.

MacrophytesAquatic plants

Main riverThe watercourse shown on the statutory “Main River Maps” held by the Agency and Defra. The Agency has permissive powers to carry out works of maintenance and improvements on these rivers.

NaturalisationProcess of converting gauged flows to natural flows by removing abstraction and discharge impacts – this will produce the benchmark flow.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NZV)Farmers located within these NVZs are required to adhere to an action programme of measures to ensure that the amount of nitrate lost from their land to the polluted waters is reduced.

Non-Consumptive AbstractionAbstraction where the water used is returned to a source close to or at the point of supply, e.g. hydropower generation, fish farming etc.

OutflowsThe movement of water out (losses) of a defined area of an aquifer. These include spring flows, baseflow to surface waters and movement of underground water past a defined boundary.

ParrJuvenile freshwater lifestage of Trout and Salmon.

PercolationThe decent of water through soil pores and rock crevices.

PermeabilityThe characteristic of a rock or soil that determines the rate at which fluids pass through the rock or soil under the influence of differential pressure.

Precautionary PrincipleIt cannot be taken for granted that a licence will be issued for abstraction from this area. A licence application will be fully assessed and it is highly likely that it will have some constraints.

Presumption againstIt cannot be taken for granted that a licence will be issued for abstraction from this area. A licence application will be fully assessed and it is highly likely that it will have some constraints.

Public Water supply (PWs)Term used to describe the supply of water provided by a water undertaker.

Q95The flow of a river which is exceeded on average for 95% of the time.

RAM FrameworkResource Assessment and Management Framework – a technical framework for resource assessment (for the definition and reporting of CAMS) and subsequent resource management (including abstraction licensing).

RamsarA site of international conservation importance classified at the ‘Convention on Wetlands of International Importance’ 1971, ratified by the UK Government in 1976.

RechargeWater which percolates downward from the surface into groundwater.

RevocationCancellation of a licence and associated rights and benefits.

salmonidsMembers of the family salmonidae, include salmon, trout and char.

site of Nature Conservation Importance (sNCI)Sites designated by Local Authorities for planning purposes as locally important for conservation interests.

site of special scientific Interest (sssI)A site given a statutory designation by English Nature or the Countryside Council for Wales because of its importance to nature conservation.

smoltLifestage of Trout and Salmon between freshwater parr and seawater ‘adult’ phase, where parr undergo a process of pre-adaption to a saltwater environment.

special Area of Conservation (sAC)Internationally important nature conservation site designated under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).

special Protection Area (sPA)Internationally important nature conservation site designated under the EU Wild Birds Directive (79/409/EEC).

spray IrrigationThe irrigation of land or plants (including seeds) by water emerging from apparatus designed or adapted to eject water into the air in the form of jets or spray.

springA surface watercourse that occurs where the water table intersects the ground surface.



surface WaterThis is a general term used to describe all above ground water features such as rivers, streams, springs, ponds and lakes.

sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This involves meeting four objectives simultaneously:

• social progress which recognises the needs of everyone;

• effective protection of the environment;

• prudent use of natural resources;

• maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.

Time limited licenceAn abstraction licence with specified end date.

Tipping Bucket Rain GaugeAn electronic device for measuring rainfall.

Trickle irrigationThe watering of crops by slow release of small amounts of water through holes in pipes laid on the ground.

Water Resource Management Unit (WRMU)An area that has similar groundwater and or surface water characteristics defined for the local management of water resources.

Water Resource strategiesStrategy for water resource planning in England and Wales over the next 25 years to ensure sustainable use and sufficient water for all human uses with an improved water environment. The strategies predict demand using different social and economic scenarios.

APAssessment Point

AONBArea of outstanding Natural Beauty

BAPBiodiversity Action Plan

CAMsCatchment Abstraction Management Strategy

CFMPCatchment Flood Management Plan

CUMECsCubic Meters Per Second

DEFRADepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (formally DETR and MAFF)

EUEuropean Union

GWMUGroundwater Management Unit

HOFHands-off Flow

km²Square kilometers

mMeters

Ml/dMegalitres (million litres) per day

MRFMinimum Residual Flow

NWANo water available

OAOver abstracted

OFWAT Office of Water Services

OlOver licensed

PWsPublic Water Supply

RAMResource Assessment and Management

RBMPRiver Basin Management Plan

RIssRiver Itchen Sustainability Study

sACSpecial Area of Conservation

sNCISite of Nature Conservation Importance

sPASpecial Protection Area

sssISite of Special Scientific Interest

sUDsSustainable Drainage Systems

UKCIPUnited Kingdom Climate Impacts Programme

WAWater available

WFDWater Framework Directive

WlMPWater Level Management Plan

WRMUWater Resource Management Unit

WWTWsWaste Water Treatment Works.


List of Acronyms, Abbreviations and Units

The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy

Documents

Transcript of The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy