Controlling all water users
As water resources become more stretched to what extent should all water users be required to reduce their use equally?
Why the contribution is important
We proposed in our consultation that all abstractors who do not currently have controls linked to flows should have controls at very low flows. This was accepted by many although there were concerns about the level at which they would be set. This would apply across all sectors.
Currently about 20% of all abstractors have flow controls (known as hands off flows) on their licences. At present section 57 restrictions only apply to spray irrigators and have not been applied that often (see the supporting information for more information). So putting flow controls on all abstractors would be a significant change but maybe it is reasonable for all abstractors to make some effort to save water (e.g. managing with a 10% cut). Early action by all to save water could reduce the need later for more drastic cuts.
In the reformed abstraction management system trading in some catchments would allow abstractors who find cutting their water use difficult to access extra water.
by abstractionreform on September 05, 2014 at 10:53AM
Posted by anglianwater September 11, 2014 at 16:31
Thought is required to understand how this proposal would interact with the system of drought management. For example, during severe droughts, it is currently possible for a water company to apply for a drought permit, in some instances, to amend licence conditions to help secure public water supplies. How would the low flow control work if a water company needed to apply for a drought permit?
Applying a low flow control equally to all abstractors will help to standardise rights, which in turn will facilitate trading. The Australian experience demonstrates that markets have been more successful where there are a few different categories of standardised rights, because this makes them readily exchangeable.
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Posted by KeithWeatherhead October 01, 2014 at 15:44
Is that a cut in the annual volume, the daily maximum volume, or the peak flow rate? How would it impact on abstractors who aren't using their peak flow rate at that particular time of year, for example? The resulting reductions may be far less than 10%.
Many abstractors are constrained by their annual volume limits rather than shorter term limits. A 10% cut in annual volume might not reduce their abstraction during a short drought period.
Metering arrangements are set to record cumulative volumes rather than instantaneous rates, so enforcement of peak flow rates may be expensive.
Moreover, the flow rate may be set to match particular equipment or the pump, and a lower rate might not be workable at all.
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Posted by SouthStaffsWater October 09, 2014 at 13:30
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Posted by CCWater October 09, 2014 at 14:37
• The volume of water abstracted? Should reductions be in absolute or relative terms?
• The condition of the source where the abstractions are taking place?
• The volume of water that is returned to the environment (as close as possible to the abstraction point) as a proportion of the volume abstracted?
• Would the reductions have a seasonal component and take into account weather/climate variations/flows?
We feel that further consideration should be given to these issues.
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Posted by DCWW October 10, 2014 at 10:45
It should be recognised that all the water resource planning and drought planning we carry out as a public water supply company, is based on the current level of licence capability and conditions held by the company. Any changes to such conditions would have implications for our supply capability and would require a reassessment of our water system yields which would then be fed back into our water resource and drought planning processes.
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