Water Cycle Study Guidance docx

A water cycle study WCS will help to plan for water more sustainably by: • bringing together all partners and stakeholders existing knowledge, understanding and skills; • bringing toget

Water Cycle Study Guidance

The purpose of this document is to assist Local Authorities in commissioning water

cycle studies (WCS) It also provides useful information for water companies, developers and other partners involved in water cycle studies to help them understand why and when they should be part of a water cycle study

It provides guidance on the purpose, scope and process for undertaking such studies

Water cycle studies always need to be adapted to local considerations, therefore this guidance is not prescriptive The approach this guidance sets out, however, forms current best practice

CONTENTS

We would welcome your comments on this guidance Please email your comments to:

watercyclestudies@halcrow.com

Click here for help in using this document

The Environment Agency would like to thank for their assistance in developing and producing this

guidance

Product Code GEO0109BPFF-E-E

WHAT IS WATER CYCLE PLANNING?

This section provides the policy basis for water cycle studies, and advises why a water cycle study is needed, and how it will help stakeholders

HOW DO I CARRY OUT A WCS?

This section identifies when a water cycle study is needed, who needs to

be involved, and what needs to be done

SUPPORTING TECHNICAL INFORMATION

This section provides detailed technical information on the different elements of a water cycle study

CASE STUDIES & TOOLS This section provides information from real life case studies, and some

example outputs from previous studies

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

DATA SOURCES This section identifies what sources of information are available and should

be considered to inform the water cycle study

GLOSSARY

How to use this document

You can navigate around the document by using the links provided on each page These links are

underlined

Some images contain links You can reach these links by clicking on the image

The main sections of the guidance are shown below To move between sections the links on the

left hand of every page can be used

At the top of each page are links to navigate to the key stages in the water cycle process Also, each

page contains links to relevant frequently asked questions and to more detailed guidance

Use the contents table below, or the links at the top of the page to start

This section identifies when a water cycle study is needed, who needs to

be involved, and what needs to be done

SUPPORTING TECHNICAL

INFORMATION

This section provides detailed technical information on the different elements of a water cycle study

CASE STUDIES & TOOLS This section provides information from real life case studies, and some

example outputs from previous studies

FREQUENTLY ASKED

QUESTIONS (FAQ)

DATA SOURCES This section identifies what sources of information are available and should

be considered to inform the water cycle study

GLOSSARY

Integration with other

plans and policies

The addition of a small number of new homes may not represent a significant additional burden on existing water infrastructure However when large numbers of houses are built, there is a risk that existing infrastructure will be overwhelmed, and both the environment and people's quality of life, will suffer

The Government has a long term target that 3 million new homes will be built by 20201 This will require the fastest rate of building since the late 1960s Providing the required water infrastructure for this degree of housing growth will require careful planning

Planning for water

There is a finite capacity within the environment, and it cannot simply provide more and more water Equally, there is a limit to the amount of waste water that can be safely returned to our rivers and the sea without having a detrimental impact on the environment Furthermore, we know that extreme rainfall can overwhelm drains and overtop flood defences Climate change

is bringing fresh challenges as patterns of rainfall are predicted to change, with more intense rainfall events We must also make sure that water infrastructure contributes to the shift to a low carbon economy that is essential if greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced Planning for water has to take into account these natural constraints, and factors such as the timing and location imposed by the development itself

The optimum solution for a given locality may be to adjust the location, timing or nature of new development For example, it may be more cost effective to improve the water efficiency of new and existing houses rather than build a new water supply reservoir, or to build houses outside of the floodplain rather than build costly flood protection

A water cycle study will identify tensions between growth proposals and environmental requirements, and identify potential solutions to addressing them Effective planning and close cooperation between all parties involved is essential to the success of a water cycle study

One of the most important benefits of a WCS is that it allows all the key organisations to work together in the planning process and builds confidence between parties

A water cycle study (WCS) will help to plan for water more sustainably by:

• bringing together all partners and stakeholders existing knowledge, understanding and skills;

• bringing together all water and planning evidence under a single framework;

• understanding the environmental and physical constraints to development;

• working alongside green infrastructure planning to identify opportunities for more sustainable planning, and;

• identifying water cycle planning policies and a water cycle strategy to help all partners

plan for a sustainable future water environment

Click here for more information on planning policy and green infrastructure planning

Further information

1 Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable—Housing Green Paper

Integration with other

plans and policies

Water cycle planning policy

Standards and legislation to protect water and the environment are changing in a way that requires

a partnership approach to deliver infrastructure through strategic ways of working In particular, Planning Policy Statements 1, 3, 12, 23 and 25 all emphasise the importance of environmental sustainability and delivering water infrastructure to achieve it

In the UK*, we can experience both periods of drought and extensive flooding This, coupled with forecast population growth and the potential impact of climate change, has led to an increased emphasis on integrated water management in regional spatial strategies and emerging guidance from the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG)

Future Water

Future Water (published February 2008) sets out the Government’s vision for water in England in

2030 The strategy sets out an integrated approach to the sustainable management of all aspects of

the water cycle, from rainfall and drainage, through to treatment and discharge The strategy focuses on practical ways to achieve the vision to ensure sustainable use of water from the perspective of people, businesses and the environment Specific aspects of the water sector considered in Future Water are:

• Water demand;

• Water supply;

• Water quality, and

• Flooding (river, coastal, surface water and groundwater flooding)

The strategy also sets out the vision to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and discusses the regulatory framework for the water industry

It looks at the adaptability of our water environment to climate change and other pressures on the water cycle The aim is to ensure sustainable delivery of water supplies, and help improve the water environment for future generations

Making space for water

Making Space for Water (MSfW), launched in 2004, outlines the Government strategy for the next

20 years to implement a more holistic approach to managing flood and coastal erosion risks in England

The policy aims to reduce the threat of flooding to people and property, and to deliver the greatest environmental, social and economic benefit MSfW considers all sources of flooding in determining flood risk, and ensures that climate change becomes a fundamental part of flood and coastal erosion management decisions The holistic approach considered by MSfW includes:

• Better management of risk;

• Land use planning through the planning system (including PPS25);

• Environmental issues such as creation of wetland, and managed realignment;

• Integrated Urban Drainage (IUD) management, and;

• Coastal issues

River Basin Management Plans

In England, River Basin Management Plans will identify what needs to be done by the Environment

Agency and others to implement a Programme of Measures to achieve ‘good status’ (ecological,

chemical and physical) in designated water bodies The first Plan is in preparation for completion by

2015 Click here for more information on river basin management plans

Integration with other

plans and policies

Water cycle planning policy

Planning policy statements and planning policy guidance

Planning policy in the UK is set by Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) formerly called Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) They explain statutory guidelines and advise local authorities and others on planning policy and operation of the planning system

PPSs also explain the relationship between planning policies and other policies which have an important bearing on issues of development and land use Planners must take these into account

in preparing development plans The guidance may also be relevant to decisions on individual planning applications and appeals

A water cycle study will help balance the requirements of the various planning policy documents, and ensure that land-use planning and water cycle infrastructure provision is sustainable The most relevant PPSs to water cycle studies are:

PPS1 – Delivering sustainable development Planning and Climate Change: Supplement to PPS1

Planning portal—a useful guide to the planning system, planning reform, and the local development framework process

Future Water

Code for Sustainable homes

Code for Sustainable Homes

The Code for Sustainable Homes has been introduced to drive a step-change in sustainable home building practice On the 27 February 2008 the Government confirmed a mandatory rating against the Code will be implemented from 1 May 2008

The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against nine categories of sustainable design, rating the 'whole home' as a complete package The Code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new home The Code sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level and, within England, replaces the EcoHomes scheme, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE)

Click here for more information on the Code for Sustainable Homes

Integration with other

plans and policies

The need for sustainable development

Sustainable development is central to the updated planning system The aim of a Sustainability

Appraisal (SA) – compulsory under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 - is to promote sustainable development This is achieved by looking at social, environmental and economic factors when creating or revising Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS), Development Plan Documents (DPD), and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD)

When building housing and other development, it is important to ensure that the development is sustainable If development proceeds at the scale planned in some regions without due

consideration given to water infrastructure requirements this could result in infrastructure which cannot meet the increase in demands, and an environment which may become less sustainable

To prevent such problems factors such as surface water drainage and flood risk, water resource, water supply, sewerage infrastructure, wastewater treatment and water quality need to be considered in a holistic, integrated way The energy requirement and carbon footprint of new

development should also be considered

In order for new homes to be sustainable planners and regulators need to make four things happen:

• GETTING THE LOCATION RIGHT: The need to avoid building homes in places that we will regret Of particular concern is the location of housing in areas of flood risk or coastal erosion,

or where water quality and water resources are already at, or approaching, environmental limits

• LONG TERM PLANNING FRAMEWORKS: To ensure a long term planning framework exists for all types of environmental infrastructure

• DEMAND MANAGEMENT: To promote more ways of managing and reducing the demand for new environmental infrastructure

• FUNDING DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND INCENTIVES: Clear funding streams, with costs allocated to polluters, developers, consumers and the taxpayer on clear and evidence-based principles

Achieving these four actions requires strong planning decisions and strong planning policies; a water cycle study provides the evidence base to make appropriate planning decisions and set policies

Click here for more information on how to determine the most sustainable optionsClick here for examples of sustainable development

It is recommended that a water cycle study includes a sustainability assessment of water cycle options This will provide an evidence base for all partners that their proposals are sustainable

How do you determine the most sustainable options?

Further information

Integration with other

plans and policies

What is a water cycle study (WCS)?

A water cycle study is:

• a method for determining what sustainable water infrastructure is required and where and when it is needed;

• a risk based approach ensuring that town and country planning makes best use of environmental capacity and opportunities, and adapts to environmental constraints;

• a way for all stakeholders to have their say, preventing any unexpected obstacles to growth;

• the process that brings all the available knowledge and information together to help make better, more integrated, risk based planning decisions, and

• a way of ensuring compliance with BERR’s "Regulators’ Compliance Code" to ensure that risk assessment precedes and informs all aspects of their approaches to regulatory activity

Much of the data and information required for a water cycle study will already exist within the organisations who have responsibility for operating, regulating and managing the water environment (e.g SFRAs) The Environment Agency, water companies and other organisations have spent millions of pounds over the recent decades gathering data, analysing and modelling the water environment One of the key benefits of a partnership approach is unlocking this information and knowledge and making it available

Water cycle study objectives

An effective water cycle study and strategy will achieve the following objectives:

1 urban development only occurs within environmental constraints;

2 urban development occurs in the most sustainable location taking;

3 water cycle infrastructure is in place before development, and;

4 opportunities for more sustainable infrastructure options have been realised

BERR “Regulators Compliance Code”

Water Cycle Management for New Developments (WaND)

Integration with other

plans and policies

Why is a water cycle study needed?

The planning and water cycle management processes work side by side Both processes require information and data from the other, so they work best when they happen at the same

time and when organisations work together

The effect of development on the water environment forms a key part of the Sustainability

Appraisal (SA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), required under the Core

Strategy process As part of the Core Strategy a WCS will give planning authorities a robust evidence base to assess this It identifies and assesses risk, investigates all the options and issues, and helps decide which option/s will best support the Core Strategy and related policies

The WCS provides the evidence base for setting out allocations, phasing of development, developer contributions and further guidance Since all the organisations work in partnership

to carry out the WCS, each partner is more likely to be committed to delivering the resulting

Water Cycle Strategy

By involving key organisations in the growth process at an early stage, a water cycle study will:

• show early on if the predicted environmental capacity can accommodate development, taking into account climate change and sustainable standards;

• provide supporting evidence for the development of the Core Strategy;

• identify immediate funding and longer-term maintenance costs, and enable these to

be factored into the planning process at an early stage;

• build relationships between key organisations;

• produce a robust, evidence-based water cycle strategy, and;

• support the SEA in providing an evidence base

A water cycle study benefits all of the partners involved The main benefits for the principal

organisations involved are listed here

Water cycle infrastructure options can have benefits for many different aspects of the water cycle For example, a well designed sustainable drainage system could have wider benefits for flood risk management, water quality protection, biodiversity, health and recreation, and water resource management However, it is often difficult to achieve the multiple benefits under the traditional planning approach, because of complex stakeholder responsibilities and priorities

A water cycle study will promote options that have multiple uses and provide multiple benefits through engagement of all the water cycle stakeholders

Click here for more information and examples of sustainable masterplanning

The integrated water cycle &

achieving multiple benefits

Integration with other

plans and policies

The water cycle

Water cycle processes

The water cycle includes the processes and systems that collect, store, or transport water in the environment Water cycle processes are both above and below ground level, and can be either natural or man-made In an undeveloped area, the water cycle includes rainfall landing on the ground, where it is either transferred into above ground streams, rivers, wetlands, floodplains, and estuaries to the sea, or is absorbed into the soil, ending up in groundwater storage aquifers

The cycle is completed by evaporation from these systems back into the atmosphere

In a developed area, the natural processes and systems are sometimes adapted for development or public health reasons For example, water is taken from rivers, treated, and piped via water supply systems into urban areas Wastewater produced by houses is collected

in a below ground sewerage system, where it is transported to a wastewater treatment works before being discharged to the sea, rivers or to groundwater

The natural processes are extremely important for wildlife and ecology, and even man made systems can have biodiversity and wildlife interest It is important than when building new homes, or even redeveloping existing areas we understand the impact on the natural environment

Green infrastructure planning

A strategy to manage important wildlife and recreation land is a major component of any sustainable development We refer to these areas as green infrastructure, which comprise a wide range of linked existing and new green spaces and similar environmental assets, both public and private Along with key roles in protecting biodiversity and providing for recreation, a green infrastructure performs an essential role in the protection and management of natural resources, including air quality, soils and especially the storage and drainage of water

Major parts of the natural hydrological system for a given area, notably rivers and their corridors and floodplains, should be prominent parts of any strategically planned, managed and

protected green infrastructure This is especially important in an urban context where undeveloped green spaces and fully functional water courses are needed to absorb the run off from buildings and roads, prevent flooding and maintain the water table beneath the settlement

at an optimum level

It is therefore vital that water cycle studies integrate with green infrastructure strategies where they exist Where they do not exist, it is important that the WCS is carried with full regard to existing green infrastructure, and that it identifies opportunities to expand and strengthen the capacity of a green infrastructure network to underpin water management whilst also delivering other environmental and social benefits

Water Cycle Management for New Developments (WaND) is a collection of guidance and tools that helps stakeholders

sustainably masterplan new developments

Green infrastructure planning guidance

Examples of green infrastructure planning

Integration with other

plans and policies

Our impact on the water cycle

The water that we drink is abstracted from rivers and from aquifers and then treated to a very high standard before entering our water supply systems

As population and demand for water grows, more water is taken from the environment, and this can have a significant impact on biodiversity, and on the recreational value of the water

environment Additionally, more energy is used to treat and transport the water as demand increases Once it reaches the household, water is used in many different ways, including washing, flushing toilets, drinking and cooking before, discharging it into our drains

Our wastewater drains into the foul or wastewater network, from where it flows to wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) via sewers and pumping stations, again often using energy At the WwTW, the waste is treated to a high standard to remove pollutants and discharged to our rivers and seas

The more water that is treated at a WwTW, the greater the potential impact of the treated wastewater discharged on the receiving watercourses This in turn requires higher levels of treatment at the WwTWs to prevent further environmental deterioration, using additional energy and chemicals Furthermore, increased flows from WwTW can also increase the risk of river flooding downstream of the works

Sustainable water cycle planning policies, water cycle management for new developments and green infrastructure planning can help ensure that development locations and water

infrastructure not only prevent the deterioration of the water cycle environment, but actively improve it

Click here for more information and examples

11

Infrastructure

Infrastructure capacity is the ability of the water supply system (abstraction, reservoirs and supply networks) to provide the water required for homes

and businesses

e.g water treatment works, pumping

stations, distribution reservoir/tower, local distribution network

Environmental

Environmental capacity is the

amount of water that can be

abstracted before

unacceptable environmental

impacts occur

e.g impact of abstraction on

low flows and ecology, and

water quality

What do we mean by water cycle capacity?

WATER RESOURCES AND WATER SUPPLY

Environmental

Environmental capacity is the required

water quality to protect aquatic and

wildlife environments

e.g Water quality standards required

to protect wildlife, WwTW consents,

storm discharge consents

Infrastructure

Infrastructure capacity is the ability of the wastewater system to collect, transport and treat wastewater from homes and

businesses

e.g Sewers, sewage pumping stations,

sewer mains, wastewater treatment works

WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND TREATMENT

FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT

Flood risk must be managed through compliance with PPS25 New development should be directed away from areas of highest risk Where this is not possible, flood resilience measures may be required, and flood risk elsewhere must not

be increased Opportunities should be sought for multiple benefits such as restoring floodplain and improving ecology

Water cycle and environmental capacity will differ from area to area, and the scoping study will need to identify what the

environmental capacity issues are at an early stage The diagram below will help you think about the kinds of capacity

issues you should be considering

Integration with other

plans and policies

When is a water cycle study needed?

A water cycle study is required if:

• the development area is a proposed eco-town;

• it is a condition of growth point status, and;

• it is a requirement of the regional spatial strategy or Core Strategy

In all other cases, a water cycle study is recommended if any of the following conditions are met:

• the scale of growth proposed by regional or local planning is significant when compared to the existing urban development As a guide, we consider a 5% increase in new

development during the time horizon of the Core Strategy to be significant;

• the Environment Agency or other partners raise doubts about the environmental capacity

of the water cycle to cope with proposed development;

• the water company identifies there are constraints over funding, or putting new infrastructure in place to meet the development framework;

A full water cycle study, including all of the three stages, may not be necessary The scoping study will identify if an outline study is needed An outline study will identify if a detailed study is needed

Integration with other

plans and policies

How do I carry out a water cycle study?

Water cycle study stages

A water cycle study is normally broken down into three stages as shown below These three stages are designed to provide the level of detail that the local development framework needs at the appropriate time

If a WCS is undertaken early enough in the Core Strategy and site allocation process, its findings can influence the location of development and make best use of the available environmental and infrastructure capacity

Not all of these stages are always needed, and the timing of stages may need to be altered to fit

in with local circumstances Therefore it is advisable to form the water cycle study group as early

as possible to agree what needs to be delivered at the different stages of the planning process

A Scoping Study should reflect the targets of the RSS, and be carried out at a very early stage in

the development of the Core Strategy

The purpose of a scoping study is to:

• set up a water cycle steering group: confirm the relevant partners and their responsibilities;

• define the study area;

• identify what studies have already been carried out and what data are available;

• confirm development scenarios and planning data;

• identify the objectives of the WCS and which plans and strategies it will be used to inform and draw from;

• identify if further work is needed to inform strategic planning decisions;

• agree a project scope and project plan for further work if needed;

• identify sources of funding for future phases of work if needed, and;

• assess the flexibility of development plans regarding location and other options

It is likely that a suitably qualified consultant will need to be appointed to carry out the scoping study, unless the local authority has the necessary technical resources

Scoping study output

The end result of a scoping study is a report providing a summary of the available information relating to the water environment within the study area Experience has indicated that the best way to analyse and store much of this information is in a Geographical Information System (GIS)

You do not need to carry out detailed modelling or technical analysis during the scoping

study It is likely that the Environment Agency and the water companies will have carried out some high level analyses on environmental capacity and major infrastructure capacity These can

be used to identify the key issues If there is no strong evidence that there is sufficient infrastructure capacity for new development, it should be assumed at this stage that there is no capacity

One aim of a scoping study is to assess the difficulty of providing new infrastructure; an example

of this would be assessing the difficulty or inconvenience caused by providing new infrastructure

in built up areas

Sometimes, the high level constraints won’t be evident at this stage This knowledge gap in itself

is an outcome of the scoping study and shows what needs to be investigated in further studies

Alternatively, in some cases the scoping study may identify that no further work is needed at that point in time This in itself is useful, and would form scoping study output

An example flow chart showing how to undertake a scoping study is shown here

Detailed technical information on what each stage of a water cycle study should provide for the major water cycle elements can be found by following the links to the left

Scoping study process

This flow chart is provided as an example It is important that the outline study process is amended

to reflect local issues The scope and process for each WCS should be agreed in partnership with the water cycle steering group

N

Much of the data and analysis required to carry out the outline study will already be available

This phase should not normally require additional detailed modelling or analysis to support the assessment Its focus should be on gathering and assessing the data available, identifying the environmental and major infrastructure constraints, and deciding where further detailed

assessment is needed

The outline study will:

• identify environmental risks and constraints;

• identify if environmental resources can cope with further development;

• identify if the development would overload the existing infrastructure;

• identify if major new systems are needed to allow development;

• help you pinpoint if there is water cycle capacity for new development without needing to build major new infrastructure, and;

• provide the evidence base for the local planning authority’s Core Strategy

• provide an outline water cycle strategy agreed by all partners, where appropriate

If the outline study does not reveal any irresolvable problems, objections by the Environment Agency and other regulators may be lifted, provided there is also agreement on the funding and provision of any required measures

On the contrary, the outline study may identify that are constraints or objections that cannot be resolved unless the location or phasing of development is subject to further testing

The outline study may also indicate the need for more detailed assessments to be carried out before new development can be approved These will need to be assessed during a detailed WCS

If an environmental risk assessment is not completed by the time the core strategy is submitted, there is an increased likelihood that it will face objections or be rejected The same

is true for an infrastructure capacity assessment and the site specific allocations Development Planning Document (DPD) The level of detail in the outline study should therefore be sufficient

to satisfy the water company, Environment Agency and the planning inspectorate of the points listed above

Detailed technical information on what each stage of a water cycle study should provide for the can be found in Section 3: Supporting Technical Information

An example flowchart of an outline water cycle study is available here Click here to view an example flowchart of the Outline Water Cycle Study process

Outline study

• Is there enough water? Has the water company’s twin track approach to water resources

made sure that there is enough water available to serve the projected growth levels?

• Will there be a water quality impact? Can the existing sewerage and wastewater

treatment networks cope with the increased load, and can the environment cope with the resulting increased flow and pollutant loads from the treated effluent? If not, are there alternative discharge locations that will not cause a failure of water quality targets? Is there an increased risk of storm water overflows causing an adverse water quality impact?

• Can development be accommodated without increasing flood risk? The outline WCS

needs to work alongside the SFRA, and identify if there is there sufficient land at low risk

of flooding for all the proposed development Will rain water be adequately managed to prevent surface water flooding in the development or elsewhere? Will increased discharge from WwTWs increase flood risk?

• Are there other location specific environmental risks that need to be considered, for

example relating to biodiversity or conservation requirements?

• What constraints are there on increasing capacity? The outline study needs to

summarise the answers to the questions above and identify where there are

environmental or infrastructure constraints

• What opportunities are there for changing proposed development location? The outline

study needs to inform core strategy decisions, and compare major infrastructure

provision for different options for development

• Are there outstanding concerns about infrastructure provision that need to be addressed

Outline study process

This flow chart is provided as an example It is important that the outline study process is amended to reflect local issues The scope and process for each WCS should be agreed in partnership with the water cycle steering group

Proposed new development

How many houses are planned by when?

What commercial development is planned?

Environment capacity

Is there capacity in existing

licences for development?

Will existing licence remain

valid?

Can we reduce abstraction by

better management practices?

Infrastructure capacity

If new major infrastructure (reservoirs, water treatment works, boreholes) are needed, can they be provided in time, can they be funded, and are they

sustainable?

WATER RESOURCES AND WATER SUPPLY

Environmental capacity

Is there volumetric capacity in existing

effluent discharge consent for growth?

Will discharge consent be valid to meet

future standard (e.g WFD)?

Will additional discharge be allowed if

there is no additional environmental

capacity to assimilate it?

Infrastructure capacity

If new major infrastructure (wastewater treatment works, major pumping mains or sewer mains) are needed, can they be provided in time, and can they be funded?

WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND TREATMENT

What information will an outline water cycle study provide?

A detailed water cycle study works alongside the latter stages of the Core Strategy

development process, and will lead to a water cycle strategy which;

• identifies what water cycle management measures and infrastructure are required, and where and when they are needed;

• identifies who is responsible for providing the systems, and by what deadline, and;

• guides planners and developers on site specific requirements (for example SuDS requirements)

The outline study should have gained ‘in principle’ agreement to the Core Strategy However, it is likely to have identified areas of uncertainty where further work is required The detailed study will need to resolve these areas of uncertainty

A detailed study may not be necessary for every WCS If the scoping study and outline study

have not identified any environmental risks, or major infrastructure needs, a full study may not be needed However, experience has shown that a detailed study may find a more cost effective and sustainable solution to providing infrastructure, managing demand, and improving environmental quality

The precise requirements of the detailed study will be different for each location, depending on the proposed development, area characteristics, and existing systems It is important that the requirements for the detailed study are clearly outlined in the scoping phase and outline study

A detailed study will:

• complete any detailed assessments identified in the outline study;

• establish minimum design standards to be applied to new developments to ensure a sustainable and integrated water cycle;

• carry out a sustainability analysis of development options and water cycle infrastructure;

• provide a detailed framework for the sustainable provision of infrastructure including a

timeline of requirements (the water cycle strategy);

• help ensure that water cycle infrastructure will be funded and implemented in a timely manner;

• inform supplementary planning guidance, and;

• provide the basis for a financial mechanism for developer contributions, or a ‘reasonable prospect’ of infrastructure provision to link planning conditions

An example process flowchart for carrying out a detailed study and devising a water cycle strategy can be found by following this link

Click here for a case study of a detailed water cycle strategy

Can capacity be created in the existing infrastructure by managing demand?

Develop preferred solution and timeline for provision of infrastructure

Is funding available through traditional sources to provide required infrastructure ?

Investigate potential alternative funding options for infrastructure and develop funding mechanism

Can funding be made available from other sources

Guidance for developers on minimum standards and best practice Guidelines / developer checklist to assist LPA make planning decisions

Is it technically feasible to provide infrastructure in time?

Investigate options for provision of infrastructure to facilitate development

Confirm development scenarios to be assessed (these would normally be the Core strategy preferred options by the stage, or the sites to be tested for the Site Allocations DPD)

Is the solution identified the most sustainable solution?

Assess sustainability of infrastructure and mitigation options

Does infrastructure meet future needs (eg climate change)

Review development scenarios being tested

Are plans (and funding) in place to provide infrastructure?

Y N

Y Y

Y

Y Y

Y

N N

Identify alternative sustainable solution N

This flow chart is provided as an example It is important that the outline study process is amended to reflect local issues The scope and process for each WCS should be agreed in partnership with the water cycle steering group

N

Therefore the water cycle strategy needs to be reviewed on a regular basis to make sure that is:

• consistent with any policy changes;

• consistent with housing delivery and strategic housing numbers;

• consistent with any changes to the River Basin Management Plan, and;

• consistent with changes to the water companies 25 year strategic direction statement;

changes to their SWRMP and to changes in their business plan

It is recommended that the water cycle strategy is reviewed every five years, alongside the review

of the Core Strategy

Flood risk management

There are several pieces of information which may need to be referred to in the WCS:

• Planning Policy Statement 25 - development and flood risk

• The catchment flood management plan (CFMP)

• The regional flood risk appraisal (RFRA)

• Defra Coastal Defence Appraisal Guidance for climate change impacts (for coastal locations)

• Shoreline Management Plans (for coastal locations)

• The strategic flood risk assessment (SFRA)

• The surface water management plan (SWMP)

• The water companies’ drainage area plan (DAP)

• Internal Drainage Board administration area map*

The outline study will need to confirm that proposed development is within environmental

capacity, and that in principle, it will not increase flood risk within the development or elsewhere

It will need to:

• Help direct development away from areas of high flood or coastal erosion risk

• Help determine whether a surface water management plan is required to provide a strategic approach to surface water drainage, groundwater flooding, and flood risk management

• Allow the Environment Agency to agree ‘in principle’ that the Local Development Framework Core Strategy policies are compliant with PPS25

• Identify the need and opportunities for options that produce multiple benefits For example restoring a river and floodplain upstream of a town or city will improve the ecological quality of the receiving water, provide amenities and open space, as well as reducing existing flood risk

• Ensure that climate change impacts on flood risk and sea level rise are taken into account in spatial planning

• Provide high level policies and advice for developers where necessary

If there are multiple sources of flooding (such as combined surface water drainage and river flooding), it is likely that a surface water management plan will be required This would form part

of the development of a detailed water cycle strategy and determine the need for strategic flood risk solutions At the time of writing (November 2008) guidance on how to undertake surface water management plans was being produced (see below)

It is important to identify the scope of the surface water management plan at an early stage, and

to develop the plan as part of, or alongside a detailed WCS

The detailed study will need to:

• fill any information gaps identified in the outline study;

• work with or carry out an exception test to provide justification if homes are proposed to

be built in areas of higher flood risk, and;

• work with, or carry out a surface water management plan where required

* Internal Drainage Boards are responsible for managing ordinary water courses in IDB controlled areas This map

identifies the IDB controlled areas For more information visit www.ada.org.uk

Click here for a link to Defra’s consultation on “Improving Surface Water Drainage”

Surface water management plans

Surface Water Management Plans (SWMPs) can be defined as the tool to manage surface water

flood risk on a local basis by improving and optimising coordination between relevant stakeholders SWMPs will build on SFRAs and provide the vehicle for local organisations to develop a shared understanding of surface water flood risk, including setting out priorities for action, maintenance needs and links into LDFs and emergency plans (Pitt review, 2008)

Currently guidance is being produced by Defra on how to undertake SWMPs (click on the image to view larger version of SWMP process) For more information on surface water management please follow the link below

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/surfacewaterdrainage.htm) There are linkages between a WCS and a SWMP, and a SWMP can be part of a detailed WCS if the need is identified (click here view linkages between a WCS and SWMP) Flood risk management is principally concerned with reducing existing flood risk and effectively managing flood risk from new developments

A WCS is predominantly concerned with ensuring sustainable new development In the case of surface water flood risk a WCS should seek to effectively master plan surface water runoff from new development so as not to increase flood risk or to reduce flood risk Where a WCS does not identify any existing surface water flood risk then a SWMP is unlikely to be required, as the WCS can effectively master plan the new development to ensure risk from new development are managed effectively

In areas where there is significant existing surface water flood risk but little new development, then risk should be managed through the SWMP process, as shown in the table below In these

situations it is unlikely that a WCS would need to be carried out

Ideally, where there is a combination of new development and existing surface water flood risk a SWMP should be carried out as an integral part of the detailed WCS, which will allow integration between the two studies If a SWMP has already been carried out prior to the WCS the SWMP should be used as part of the evidence base for the WCS, in much the same way as a SFRA is used Equally a WCS could inform and recommend the need for a SWMP, although this may hinder integration between the studies

New development Existing surface water flood risk Study required

Water resources and water supply

Is there enough water and have we managed demand effectively?

There are five key sources of information that will need to be considered as part of the WCS

Catchment abstraction management strategies (CAMS) Strategic water resource management plans (WRMP) River Basin Management Plans

Water company infrastructure plans Code for sustainable homes

The outline study will need to confirm that proposed development is within environmental

capacity, that environmental opportunities are taken advantage of, and that major infrastructure (where required) can be planned, designed, funded and built in time to serve development The water resource management plans will cover this at a water resource zone level However a water resource zone may contain many different urban areas The outline WCS will need to ensure that the WRMP is valid at the local level

It will need to:

• Confirm demand management, leakage reduction measures, and new resource schemes identified in the WRMP are adequate for the projected development and population increase;

• Assess the risk of sustainability reductions or River Basin Management Plans reducing abstraction licenses;

• Compare and confirm the water company population estimates and projections in the WRMP against the latest forecast population projection;

• Assess the balance of demand management and leakage reduction schemes against new resources schemes, and identify opportunities for further demand management schemes in new and existing developments;

• Confirm that the forecast population growth can be accommodated with the water resource and supply schemes proposed in the WRMP;

• Identify if there are opportunities to save money or improve sustainability through an integrated approach with other elements of the water cycle study Where this is the case, the outline study will need to identify what further work is required in the detailed study to achieve the benefits An example of this would be rainwater harvesting or grey-water recycling;

• Identify high level policy advice on water efficiency measures for developers (see

further information below);

• Identify any information, data, funding or policy gaps that need further investigation

The Detailed study will need to:

• fill any information gaps identified in the outline study;

• identify what strategic water supply infrastructure is required by when;

• confirm that water resources and supply infrastructure is planned to be provided in a

timely manner;

• ensure that opportunities for greater demand management and environmental

enhancement identified in the outline study are achieved, and;

• assess the possibility for water neutrality - If the study area is in an area of severe

water stress, the sustainability assessment is likely to score water demand

management very highly, and in such areas water neutrality should be considered

Water quality and wastewater collection

There are two main ways in which new development can affect aquatic ecology and water quality:

• changes to the volume and quality of surface water runoff, and;

• increases in treated sewage effluent and frequency of storm discharges from the foul sewerage network

The first issue should be addressed as part of the flood risk management and drainage assessment By assuring compliance with PPS25 and the Interim Code of Practice for SuDS, there should be no significant increase in the rate, volume, or quality of surface water runoff

The water quality aspect of the water cycle study needs to address the following two questions:

• Will increases in the volume or concentration of wastewater discharges prevent compliance with water quality objectives?

• Can water infrastructure be funded and built at the pace needed to support the proposed development?

Close partnership between the water cycle group partners is essential to identify what information and tools are already available to answer these questions, and identify what gaps need to be answered by the different stages of the water cycle study

The outline study will need to confirm that there is sufficient environmental capacity to

accommodate the impact of new developments, that environmental opportunities are taken advantage of, and that major infrastructure (where required) can be planned, designed, funded and built in time to serve development

To do this it will need to:

• Identify and agree the water quality objectives for the study area with the Environment

Agency

• Identify, in consultation with the Environment Agency, the future target standards - for

example, the new Water Framework Directive Standards or targets to be achieved under the Habitats Directive These will be identified for all water bodies in the draft (2008) and final (2009) River Basin Management Plans Where further studies are needed to develop locally relevant standards, it should be clear that these will be carried out in the detailed stage

• Identify the capacity of the WwTW, both actual and consented, and identify when this capacity is likely to be reached

• Confirm that the population figures and per capita consumption rates used are consistent with the water companies latest estimates, with the water resources management plan, and with

the steering group’s aspirations to achieve a Code for Sustainable Homes level

(cont)

cont from previous page

• Identify if major strategic improvements to the sewerage system are required If they are

required the study should identify if funding is available, and if there are opportunities for environmental enhancement as part of the strategic improvements;

• Identify process and physical capacity constraints at the WwTW, and determine feasible options for overcoming these For example, is land available for extension of the WwTW?

• In collaboration with the water cycle steering group, identify those issues that need to be looked at in more detail during the detailed water cycle study;

• Identify if there are other environmental capacity constraints that may need to be resolved For example, will increased discharge from a WwTW lead to an unacceptable increase in flood risk?

• Identify if there are any missing data that need to be sourced before any detailed planning applications can be assessed

The detailed water cycle study will need to:

• Carry out additional studies identified by the outline study Depending on the local issues further modelling studies may be necessary For example:

◊ Habitats Directive appropriate assessments

◊ Urban Pollution Management modelling studies

◊ Integrated catchment modelling studies

• The requirement for these further studies, and the scope and objectives need to be agreed and identified in the outline study

• In conjunction with the water resources and supply assessments, ensure that opportunities for greater demand management and environmental enhancement identified in the outline study are achieved

An example process which could be adopted when determining the water quality requirements for wastewater treatment is illustrated at this link

Water quality and wastewater collection (2)

Water Framework Directive and River Basin planning

The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) is a framework to protect the water environment

and to improve the quality of surface coastal and inland water bodies, groundwater, and associated wetlands

The Environment Agency is the competent authority for implementation of the Water Framework Directive in England and Wales This involves use of the Agency’s regulatory powers as well as collaboration with other delivery agencies and local and regional government to deliver the intended outcomes

• drive wiser, more sustainable use of water as a natural resource;

• create better habitats for wildlife in and around water;

• progressively reduce or phase out discharges, emissions and losses of priority substances and priority hazardous substances;

• progressively reduce the pollution of groundwater, and;

• contribute to mitigating the effects of floods and droughts

River Basin Management Plans

In England River Basin Management Plans will identify what needs to be done by the Environment Agency and others to implement a Programme of Measures to achieve ‘good status’ (ecological, chemical and physical) in designated water bodies The first Plan is in preparation for completion

by 2015

River Basin Management Plans will identify water bodies and appraise their baseline condition (2008) Standards for good status of water bodies will be assessed under UKTAG Water Framework Directive guidance Where water bodies do not meet the required standard the Programme of Measures will identify action needed to achieve it

The future timetable to prepare and implement the River Basin Management Plans is:

• 2008 (December - June 2009) consult on draft River Basin Management Plans, which

includes overview of status and programmes of measures;

• 2009 (December) first River Basin Management Plans, including the setting of

environmental objectives for each body of water and summaries of programmes of measures, and;

• 2015 meet Directive objectives for first River Basin Management Plans

Click here for more information and a map of the river basin districts

Click here to go to the Environment Agency’s WFD pages

The Water Framework Directive recognises the potential impacts on water bodies from new development as a pressure that must be addressed The Environment Agency may, for example, work through the planning system and advise developers and local authorities to:

• restore river margins to a natural state wherever possible through new development and redevelopment of previously developed land;

• use Sustainable Drainage Systems where they are suitable to control peak flows in rivers and streams and help prevent urban pollution;

• ensure that new water infrastructure is designed and located to improve the quality of local watercourses, and is resilient to the effects of climate change, especially the impact of higher peak flows;

• plan, in partnership with water companies, so that new water infrastructure capacity is available in time to meet the demand from new development, and;

• ensure that inappropriate new development does not occur in places that are at risk of flooding, or where it increases the risk of flooding elsewhere

The Environment Agency will do this by commenting on development plans, environmental assessments and planning applications

Water Cycle Studies

Part of the Environment Agency’s approach will be to identify the need for local

authorities, developers and water companies* to work together and prepare a Water Cycle Study that assesses the impacts of new development on local water bodies Water Cycle Studies will have to take into account the standards set out in River Basin Management Plans These standards are likely to be more demanding than those currently used to determine water consents (e.g for abstraction, discharge and land drainage) which may result in less environmental headroom than previously thought This may require local re-assessment of water infrastructure and require investment to meet the new standards as well as to meet increased demands from new development

Foundation for Water Research (1994) - Urban Pollution Management Manual

Urban water quality planning is essential to ensure development is sustainable Recent advances in urban drainage modelling and water quality planning are helping to ensure a more sustainable water cycle They have shown that sustainable and cost efficient solutions

to the challenges of population increase, climate change and the Water Framework Directive (WFD) are only possible with a strategic, holistic and integrated approach to modelling and design

The Urban Pollution Management Manual2 was a major research and development programme that was sponsored by the whole of the UK Water Industry Many of the planning concepts and enabling tools in the Manual were substantially new at that time and address issues that are of great importance to the industry The process outlined in the Manual has been widely adopted in the UK, and, in particular in areas with acute combined sewer overflow problems

There are three concepts behind the urban pollution management methodology

1 The need to consider the sewer system, treatment plant and the receiving water as an integrated system, whereby changes in one part of the system has implications for other parts

2 The approach is underpinned by environmental standards, where compliance to defined standards need to be demonstrated

3 The level of detail of modelling should be risk-based and appropriate to the technical needs of the study Simple tools are often sufficient to undertake a UPM study and more detailed modelling methodologies are only required where there is an economic case to do so

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions What do we mean by water cycle capacity?

When is a water cycle study needed?

Is a water cycle study always needed?

Is a detailed study always needed?

Do I need to consult the public when carrying out my WCS?

How does a water cycle study link to other plans?

What are the benefits of a water cycle study?

Who is responsible for water and environmental infrastructure?

Who pays for a water cycle study?

Who pays for water infrastructure?

What do we mean by water neutrality?

What do we do if we haven’t carried out a strategic flood risk assessment?

Is the development in an area of water stress?

How does a WCS fit in the Local Development Framework?

What spatial area should a WCS cover?

Who should lead a WCS?

Who should be in a water cycle study group?

Should developers be part of a water cycle study group?

How do you determine the most sustainable water and environmental infrastructure?

How might the Competition Act 1991 affect a WCS?

What does sustainable water management look like in practice?

Frequently asked questions

Is a water cycle study always needed?

For small developments a water cycle study may not be necessary An assessment of the infrastructure needed to support development is needed for all developments, no matter how small and individual authorities and companies may carry out elements of the study separately However, this approach is risky The measures identified may not be the most environmentally sound or cost-effective And as a result, cumulative small scale development may gradually damage the water cycle This kind of damage, if never fully evaluated, can cause more environmental problems than a large development

Each stage of the WCS will identify the need and scope for further stages If the scoping study identifies that there are no significant environmental or infrastructure capacity issues, that previous work has planned for sustainable infrastructure and that demand management is being promoted, there may be no need for further work Similarly the outline study may conclude that a detailed study is not required

Do I need to consult the public when carrying out my WCS?

Consultation with the public is not normally required during a water cycle study However the findings of the water cycle study may be subject to public scrutiny if they are used as the evidence base to the Sustainability Appraisal or the Core Strategy

Frequently asked questions

How does a WCS link to other plans?

A water cycle study and strategy brings together and integrates many separate pieces of work

by different organisations and should be seen as a framework for integrating a variety of water and environmental planning studies

It is essential that the water cycle scoping study identifies what other plans and strategies have already been carried out, and provides a clear map of how these studies integrate with or inform the WCS

The figures below provide examples of how a water cycle study can map to flood risk management, water resources planning, and water quality and wastewater planning processes

The water cycle scoping study should identify and agree a framework of what plans and processes the water cycle study will build upon and inform

Flood risk management

Water quality and wastewater treatment

Water resources

Frequently asked questions

How does a WCS link to flood risk management planning?

(back to SWMP page)

Frequently asked questions

How does a WCS link to water quality and wastewater planning?

Frequently asked questions

How does a WCS link to water resources planning?

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of a WCS?

One of the most important benefits of a WCS is that allows all the key organisations to work together

in the planning process and builds confidence between parties

This partnership working ensures that development meets sustainable development requirements, by ensuring:

• houses are built in the right place as agreed by all stakeholders;

• demand for new services is managed through good urban and building design, and;

• the necessary additional infrastructure is both sustainable and provided in time to support development

The water cycle study is of benefit to all stakeholders The links below provide further information on the benefits to stakeholders

Planning authority Water company Environment Agency Developer

Public Natural England

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of a WCS?

Planning authority

A WCS will identify sites which can and cannot support growth, as well as immediate funding and longer-term maintenance costs

It will

• provide the evidence base for the water cycle components of your Core Strategy;

• provide a compliance framework for planning applications and planning obligations;

• remove or reduce delays to the development and implementation of the Core Strategy

by securing water company and Environment Agency agreement in advance of submission, and;

• integrate flood risk management with the wider water environment

Another advantage is that a WCS can help reduce disruption to existing communities By pinpointing the systems that are needed before work begins, and looking at tactical solutions, new infrastructure can be planned and delivered more efficiently

Water company Environment Agency Developer

Public Natural England