United Utilities will start to investigate the routes of potential new pipelines over the next few weeks for a multi-million pound project to secure water supplies in West Cumbria for decades to come.
The project could take United Utilities until 2025, and environmental experts say it is vital to protect some of the UK’s most vulnerable habitats, like Ennerdale.
Once complete in 2025, United Utilities’ new water supply for west Cumbria will mean Ennerdale Water, plus a number of other protected habitats, will never be used for drinking water supplies, or be subject to drought orders, again.
Instead the area will have a new much more resilient and sustainable water supply system. The two options being considered are to link the area to the company’s huge reservoir at Thirlmere or develop a range of different new local water sources instead.
In the meantime, the water company is inviting views on the changes to United Utilities’ official drought plan for west Cumbria to implement special drought procedures to see west Cumbria through until the new system is built.
Dr Richard Blackwell, United Utilities’ supply and demand manager said that United Utilities would eventually need to stop using Ennerdale as a source of water, commenting:
“We have already started to change the way we manage it to help protect the incredibly sensitive and protected habitats and creatures that live there and it is something we are working very closely on with the Environment Agency and Natural England.”
“As part of that we have had to re-think how we respond when lake or river levels drop too low during spells of dry weather. In west Cumbria, this could happen slightly more often because of some of the new steps we have had to take. So from time to time we may ask people here to voluntarily cut back on their water usage, such as hosepipes, for short periods. It doesn’t mean more enforced hosepipe bans, just more appeals by us for people to save water as much as they can.”
“Until then, balancing the water needs of people and the environment in west Cumbria is a bit trickier than it used to be. Luckily, Ennerdale’s lake level recovers quickly from dry spells, so, when we do ask people to save water, it shouldn’t be for long, and probably only about once every two and a half years on average.”
Deadline to comment on the changes to United Utilities’ official drought plan for west Cumbria 17th February – responses should be sent direct to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs either by post or via email.