Examination of Witnesses (Questions 180
- 182)
MONDAY 5 MARCH 2007
DR DAVID
KING AND
MS JULIA
SIMPSON
Q180 Chairman: Dr King, were you
involved in the concept of the water grid?
Dr King: Yes, I was, in that I
have in my portfolio of responsibilities water resources policies.
Q181 Chairman: Four or five years
ago this was seen as a wonderful opportunity to move water around
the country to deal with shortages, but it was also a good little
earner for yourselves and perhaps BW, and yet now it is completely
dead as an issue. What was EA's view on it? Did it have misgivings
or see it as a good opportunity?
Dr King: We do have misgivings.
We do not believe that a national water grid is the answer to
the water-stressed areas of the South East for two main reasons:
first, water is heavy and it is expensive to move it around in
terms of energy costs and pumping; second, there are considerations
associated with ecology in terms of the transfer of non-native
species and impacts on different water courses. But we certainly
believe that there are opportunities for smaller local transfers.
Our policy position is that there is a lot more to do in terms
of demand management and water efficiency. Clearly, there will
be some new resources required in the South East in combination
with water efficiency but that is a preferable alternative to
a water grid.
Q182 Chairman: Do you have examples
of where the EA draws income from water transfer?
Dr King: There are some major
transfer schemes, the Ely-Ouse being one of them. That is a major
water resource for Essex and part of East Anglia and there, are
also some on the Severn.
Chairman: You heard what I said to the
previous witnesses. What you said cannot be unsaid, but there
may be things that you wish to add to discussions. Certainly,
in terms of any examples that Mr Jack brought up you may wish
to send us further written evidence. We are keen to look at the
opportunities presented to us by the waterways, but we also need
to look at some of the difficulties. Thank you for your evidence.
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