Water White Paper gets an airing!

The recently published Water White Paper was scrutinised last night (Tuesday 31 January) at a special meeting in the House of Commons. It was suggested that the White Paper was overdue and very much needed!

Anne McIntosh MP

The speakers at the All Party Parliamentary Water Group included Anne McIntosh, MP, chairman of the Group, Dr Jean Venables,  chief executive,  Association of Drainage Authorities, Philip Clisham, chief engineer, Mouchel, and Michelle Lewis, head of communications, Yorkshire Water.

Overall it welcomed the ‘Water for life’ aspect and the fact that it looked closely at the value of water management and welcomed the call for ‘catchment management’.

The meeting pointed out that rainwater harvesting was very significant but the White Paper ‘hadn’t got the figures right! The incidence of flooding was very important ingredient and the storing of peak flows.

It was underlined that we ‘need to get the right solutions’ so that there could be a sustainable water sector. The water industry had to be aware of its carbon  footprint and should invest in greater training.

On the whole there really was a lot still to be done and the White Paper was very much needed. There was a ‘myriad’ of small water companies  – too many of them – and each year in the UK there were around 30,000 abstractions! Also, far too many.

The National Home Improvement Council is particularly interested in water matters because it’s careful administration and management is such a vitally important ingredient of all our lives!

Photo: Anne McIntosh MP