Water

Water, water everywhere... but not a drop to drink!

‘Though water covers our World, more than 97% is salty. 2% is locked up in ice and snow, leaving less than 1% on which we survive’.

‘Of the world’s fresh water, 69.6% is frozen in ice sheets, glaciers, permanent snow cover and permafrost’; only 0.3% is in lakes, rivers and wetlands; and 30.1% is beneath the ground in soil and aquifers fed by surface seepage’.

‘Agriculture uses 70% of the world’s water’.

‘Groundwater in aquifers is being drained faster than the natural rate of recharge’.

[Source: National Geographic Magazine - April 2010]

‘The farm has a large licence to abstract water from both the Witham and boreholes into the aquifer.’

[Source: http://noctondairies.co.uk - archived copy]

It won’t be long before 'we’re going to see rising tensions over shared water resources, including political disputes between farmers, between farmers and cities, and between human and ecological demands for water'.

[Source: Peter Gleick - Water Expert and President of the Pacific Institute in Oakland California]

Potential problems with the water supply

'Anglian Water says, "There is no significant water infrastructure within two kilometres of the site. There have been no details provided regarding water supply and connection." This is astounding, particularly in light of the facts, as stated by advisors Landscope Land and Property, that water consumption will be high, particularly in the summer. They state that provision of water "will be absolutely crucial" to the success of the business and that "the reliability of a supply of fresh water must be absolute," not least for animal welfare.'

[Source: Food and Water, Europe - 14th April 2010]

Water Resources

'The East of England is the driest region in the UK, experiencing an average of 600mm of rainfall annually in contrast to an average of 900 mm for England and Wales. In an average year only a quarter of the rainfall is available as a water resource after evaporation and use by plants. Consequently water availability is a key issue for Anglian Water and the WRMP.

The Environment Agency identified the Anglian Water region as an area of moderate water stress in its 2007 consultation on water stressed areas. This was revised to one of serious water stress in the final designation.

The Anglian Water region’s water resources are highly utilised. The predictions for growth in the region means water resources are going to need to be carefully managed to provide additional water supplies and manage customer demand to ensure a secure supply of water without damaging the natural environment.'

[Source: Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report: Non-Technical Summary - Anglian Water - April 2008]

Good deal for residents?

With the human race draining aquifers more quickly than the recharge rate, can we fully justify the extraction of millions of gallons of fresh water for this development from the fragile aquifer under Dunston Heath and our local rivers, only to return contaminated water as the quid pro quo? I think not.

[Source: My comment in original submission of objection to Planning Application 09/1040/FUL]

Abstraction Licenses

'There are currently over 800 surface and ground water abstraction licences in the Witham catchment greater than 20m3/day... these have a particular potential for conflict in demand for water between abstractors and the environment as peak demands usually coincide with periods of lowest flows.

There are approximately 200 licences granted for the purpose of general agriculture, more explicitly for uses such as farm washing and watering cattle.'

[Source: The Witham Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy - Environment Agency - March 2004]

What is available to Nocton Dairies?

Use: Spray irrigation - Direct
Period: 1st April - 31st August
Primary Point Type: Ground water
Source: Bore 1 and 2, Nocton
Max Daily Quantity: 1,528 cubic metres
Max Annual Quantity: 90,922 cubic metres

Use: Spray irrigation - Direct
Period: 1st April - 31st October
Primary Point Type: Surface water
Source: Middle Drain - Wasp's Nest
Max Daily Quantity: 3,923 cubic metres
Max Annual Quantity: 151,381 cubic metres

Use: Transfer between sources
Period: 1st April - 31st October
Primary Point Type: Surface water
Sources: Middle Drain - Partridge Farm; Middle drain - Wasp's nest; River Witham, Right Bank, Nocton
Max Daily Quantity: 3,923 cubic metres (each source)
Max Annual Quantity: 151,381 cubic metres (each source)

[Source: Freedom of Information request earlier in the year to Environment Agency for details of Local Extraction Licenses]

Estimated water requirement?

If 8,100 cows of the Holstein breed inhabit the proposed intensive dairy on Nocton Heath, there will be a water requirement estimated to be between 1,100,000 and 1,800,000 litres per day - for drinking and washing down the accommodation.

[Source: Calculated from figures given in the British Columbia Agric and Lands – Livestock Watering Factsheet]

That is between 1,100 cubic metres and 1,800 cubic metres per day, 401,500 - 657,000 cubic metres per annum.

Does this indicate that Nocton Dairies will require access to alternative water sources to manage their huge intensive dairy business?

There are already indicators that substantial changes may have been made to the original plans to make them more palatable. Of course, we will only know when their resubmission surfaces - to appear next week perhaps - but it'll be Xmas before we know it!


More information on your water supply below:

Water Footprint - Milk

http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/productgallery&product=milk

Food products should carry 'water footprint' information, says report

'The hidden amounts of water used in manufacturing food and drink products should be made known to customers, according to lobby groups.'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/20/food-water-footprint

Water: The hidden cost of your food and drink

'Vast amounts of water are often used to produce the food and drink we eat, frequently in countries already suffering from drought. See the volumes of water needed for coffee, beef, bread and more. Data source: waterfootprint.org'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2008/aug/19/water.food?intcmp=239#/?picture=336718185&index=0

10 campaign groups calling for cleaner water

'Water - we pollute it, waste it, privatise it and damn it. Around the world millions of people lack access to it. But there are organisations out there trying to protect the planet's water for the benefit of all.'

http://www.theecologist.org/how_to_make_a_difference/cleaner_air_water_land/363376/10_campaign_groups_calling_for_cleaner_water.html