The draft 25-year Environment Plan includes contributions from customers and employees, as well as other environmental organizations.
The plan will outline how the drinking water-only company will reduce its own impact on the environment it draws raw water from to treat it, and how it will contribute to the overall health of our environment.
Emma Goddard, South East Water’s head of environment, stated that the environment faces increasing threats from climate change, population growth, and other factors. However, we know that lasting positive changes take time. This is why we created the first 25-year Environment Plan in the water industry.
We also know that the environment is constantly changing and we need to review our plan every five years. This allows us to look ahead to the next quarter century.
We are a freshwater supply company and rely on water. Therefore, it is vital that we not only ensure that our operations don’t negatively impact the environment, but also that we increase the environment’s resilience to the effects climate change has on such things as drought and flooding.
This is how we plan to do it. We have provided a draft 25-year Environmental Plan that we are asking for feedback as part of the public consultation.
We are keen to know what the strengths and weaknesses of the plan are. I encourage anyone who is interested to read our draft plan to have their say.
South East Water has 83 water treatment plants and 9,000 miles of underground pipe. There are also 33 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and two local nature reserves, Lullington Heath National Nature Reserve, and many Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
According to the company, it is looking to expand its work as an environmental expert to collaborate with other local businesses and individuals to improve the environment in a generation.