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Water Firms ‘Allowing’ Protected Landscapes To Fall Into Disrepair
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are those that have been given a formal conservation designation of some kind, typically because they’re an area that needs to be protected as the home of rare species of flora and/or flora of some kind, or perhaps because they contain important physiological or geological features.
These sites often contain the likes of grasslands, wetlands and woodland made up of ancient trees, all boasting high conservation value that must be looked after and safeguarded appropriately.
When an area is given this designated status, it means that the owners have to manage the site in such a way as to conserve its particular features.
However, it seems that this may not always be the case, with figures seen by the Guardian showing that only 16 per cent of the SSSIs controlled by water companies around the UK are currently in good condition.
Chair of River Action Charles Watson observed that the fact that water companies are failing to care for the highly protected areas that they own is demonstrative of their “appalling environmental record”.
He went on to say: “It simply cannot be right that the payment of large dividends to shareholders and huge bonuses to bosses is prioritised before protecting SSSIs. This entire culture of polluting for profit must end.”
Campaigners are now calling on the government to ensure that water companies, as well as other landowners, are forced to bring these sites up to scratch.
Guy Shrubsole, the environmental campaigner who uncovered this new data, explained to the news source: “Major landowners have a particular responsibility to look after the nature in their care, but too many are clearly failing to be good stewards.
“Labour must make big landowners like water companies publicly accountable and set a legally binding target for improving SSSI conditions.”
And water campaigner Feargal Sharkey made further comments, calling for a “complete overhaul of the system, which is dysfunctional and does not work”.
Further research, published Greenpeace UK’s journalism project Unearthed back in June, found that less than a quarter of the SSSIs in England that had been inspected in the last six years were in good condition, with 77 per cent in an unfavourable state. And a quarter of SSSI areas haven’t been assessed since 2010.
Spotlight on: The River Test
The River Test, a chalk stream in Hampshire, is a particularly famous stretch of English water, renowned around the world for its incredibly clear waters and rich biodiversity… but it hasn’t been monitored by Natural England since 2013.
Even then, parts of the site were found to be in an unfavourable condition as a result of over-abstraction, pollution and invasive species.
In 2022, analysis by the University of Portsmouth found 121 pharmaceuticals, herbicides and insecticides in the river, as well as its adjoining counterpart the Itchen. The following year, an Unearthed investigation found that 673 hours of sewage discharges had taken place in the river on 53 occasions in 2022 alone.
The Test is on land owned by Southern Water, which reached an agreement with the Environment Agency in 2017 that it would reduce abstraction levels by 2027, but documents discovered by non-government organisation Wildfish indicate that there are plans in place to extend this deadline by eight years.
Speaking to Unearthed, Southern Water said it intends to construct a new reservoir and launch a water recycling project, as well as investing in environmental schemes to reduce the impact on the river.
It also plans to reduce sewage discharge and storm overflow use through nature-based and engineering solutions, according to environment and innovation director Nick Mills.
Part of the issue seems to be budget cuts that were pushed through by the Conservative government. Although Natural England’s budget did increase under Rishi Sunak’s leadership, it is still 21 per cent lower in real terms than it was 14 years ago, when the Conservatives first came to power.
Last year, the government pledged in its Environment Improvement Plan to restore 75 per cent of the nation’s SSSIs to favourable condition come 2042… so it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few years under the new Labour government.
What can businesses do to help?
Although, of course, the onus is very much on water companies and other landowners to protect the SSSIs under their charge, there is a lot that businesses across all sectors and industries can do to reduce pressure on protected habitats, rivers, lakes and streams.
Firstly, you can take steps to reduce your water usage and consumption of freshwater supplies by prioritising water-saving solutions such as rainwater harvesting, water recycling, grey water use and water leak detection and repair. By using other sources for your business operations, you free up resources to be used elsewhere, such as public drinking supplies.
Investing in sustainable technology onsite can also be particularly beneficial, ensuring that where you do have to use water you’re doing so in an environmentally responsible way.
Before you can change your habits, however, you need to know how and where you use water. This is where a water audit really comes into its own, showing you how water is used across your site so you can identify the more vulnerable areas of your business and determine which water conservation strategies would be most appropriate.
If you’d like to find out more about how to become more water efficient as a business, get in touch with the H2o Building Services team today.