Science and Technology - Eighth Report

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Here you can browse the report which was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 24 May 2006.

CONTENTS

Terms of Reference

Note  

Executive Summary

Chapter 1: Introduction

Scope  

Acknowledgements

Chapter 2: Background

Introduction

Historical Background

The Municipal Inheritance  

Historic Under-Investment  

Privatisation

Roles and Responsibilities

National and Local Government

Regulators

Ofwat

Environment Agency

Drinking Water Inspectorate

European Union

Water Companies  

Figure 1: Water Company Supply Areas and their Water Resource Zones

Consumer Interests

Key Concepts of Water Management

Security of Supply

Box 1: Security of Supply Index

Water Resources Planning

Sustainable Development

Trends towards Integrated Water Resource Management

Conclusions

Chapter 3: The Regulatory and Legislative Framework

Introduction

Successes of the Regulatory Framework

Drinking Water Inspectorate

Consumer Council for Water

Problems with the Regulatory Framework

The Periodic Review Process

The Twin-Track Approach  

Resource Development

Water Efficiency

Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal

Research and Development

Water Bills and Affordability

Unpaid Bills

Affordability

Competition

The Way Forward

Chapter 4: Demand for Water

Introduction

Table 1: Components of Non-tidal Demand

Figure 2: Breakdown of Household Demand, 1997/8

Demographic and Social Factors

Housing and Planning3

Background4

Sustainable Communities Plan8

Consultation

Impact

Industry and Agriculture

Agriculture

Industry

Chapter 5: Water Supply

Introduction

Figure 3: Current Indicative Availability: Summer Surface Water

Figure 4: Current Indicative Availability: Groundwater

Climate Change

New Resources

Reservoirs

Desalination

Leakage Reduction

Table 2: Company Estimates of Total Leakage

Table 3: Leakage Targets

Table 4: Leakage as a Proportion of Water Supplied

Water Transfer

Water Re-use

Large-scale Re-use of Treated Wastewater

Local Treatment and Re-use of Wastewater

Rainwater Harvesting

Chapter 6: Water Efficiency

Introduction

Promotion of Water Efficiency

Domestic Water Efficiency

Public Awareness

Metering

Figure 5: Yarra Valley Smart Water Bill

Water Efficient Fittings and Appliances

Building Regulations

Code for Sustainable Homes

Industrial and Agricultural Water Efficiency

Industry

Agriculture

Chapter 7: Water and the Environment

Introduction

Water Quality in the Environment

Background

Water Framework Directive

Priority Substances Directive

Sewage Sludge

Sustainable Drainage Systems

Water Resources

Chapter 8: Summary of Recommendations

Background

The Regulatory and Legislative Framework

Successes of the Regulatory Framework

Problems with the Regulatory Framework

The Periodic Review Process

Resource Development

Water Efficiency

Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal

Research and Development

Water Bills and Affordability

Competition

The Way Forward

Demand for Water

Demographic and Social Factors

Housing and Planning

Water Supply

Climate Change

New Resources

Reservoirs

Desalination

Leakage Reduction

Water Transfer

Water Re-use

Large-scale Re-use of Treated Wastewater

Local Treatment and Re-use of Wastewater

Rainwater Harvesting

Water Efficiency

Promotion of Water Efficiency

Domestic Water Efficiency

Public Awareness

Metering

Water Efficient Fittings and Appliances

Building Regulations

Code for Sustainable Homes

Industrial and Agricultural Water Efficiency

Industry

Agriculture

Water and the Environment

Water Framework Directive

Priority Substances Directive

Sustainable Drainage Systems

Water Resources

Appendix 1: Members and Declarations

Appendix 2: List of Witnesses

Appendix 3: Call for Evidence

Appendix 4: Comments from Professor Adrian McDonald

Appendix 5: Note of the Seminar

Appendix 6: Note of the Visit to Yorkshire Water

Appendix 7: Note of the Visit to BedZED

Appendix 8: Note of the Visit to Australia

Appendix 9: Note of the Visit to Essex and Suffolk Water and Anglian Water

Appendix 10: Abbreviations and Acronyms used in this Report

Oral Evidences

Wednesday 2 November 2005

Tuesday 15 November 2005

Tuesday 22 November 2005

Tuesday 29 November 2005

Tuesday 6 December 2005

Tuesday 20 December 2005

Tuesday 10 January 2006

Tuesday 17 January 2006

Tuesday 24 January 2006

Tuesday 14 February 2006

Tuesday 28 February 2006

Tuesday 7 March 2006

Tuesday 28 March 2006

Written Evidence

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Prepared 6 June 2006