Memorandum submitted by Julian Jones (FL
165)
I write at the suggestion of OFWAT, following
your Chairman's appearance on Radio 4's "You & Yours"
(sample correspondence with OFWAT attached).[63]
I attach the proceedings of our local "Water
for Tomorrow" conference, an Agenda 21 event.[64]
As you may be aware there are no effective Agenda 21 water plans
(chapter 18) in place, they should have been by 2000—were
they in place & properly implemented, our national flood and
drought problems would have been greatly moderated.
Mention was made in the Radio 4 programme of
the use of "Hydraulic Breaks" to attenuate flooding
within farmland, and I attach a Defra Pilot Proposal (Stroud Exemplar)
produced for Severn Trent Water in 2003 that uses this approach,
(it was never taken up).[65]
This also provides some detail on a similar low cost approach
to capture, control and treatment of foul flooding from sewers
in an urban context.
This arises from an holistic overview based
on the natural water cycle, and is extremely low in cost to implement
(estimated >75% savings on all water charges), whilst also
greatly facilitating renewable energy potential (small scale hydro,
pump storage, biomass, etc), agricultural diversification and
greatly benefiting public health. It is lack of appropriate regulation
that allows the present situation, though the model proposed also
physically deconstructs the present water company business model
and this has delayed uptake of this by them.
By using three basic natural methods to ameliorate
both flood (and drought):
— Upstream retention (low cost
seasonal impoundments), simple hydraulics and cheap construction.
— Infiltration, impoundments
(and other additional optional features) can, according to soil
type and design, greatly assist aquifer recharge, ie "turn
on the sponge" this is a dramatic and key effect that is
overlooked.
— Evaporation, above measures
can reduce evaporation which in turn reduces further down wind
precipitation.
Further information is available if required.
We are keen to pursue this and I feel also my medical colleagues
might like to contribute, with specific detail from Gloucestershire.
Julian Jones
(Hon Water Scientist, Cranfield Postgrad Med Sch
& Glos NHS) for Water21
February 2008
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