South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

"Water is our most precious natural asset; our prosperity and quality of life depend on it. Yet we have come to take it for granted and forgotten that assets have to be nurtured and valued if we want to enjoy their benefits.

Let's Make Every
Drop Count
South East
Water Resources
Forum 2005
Annual Report(Adobe Acrobat 9.58Mb)
WARNING: This document is very large. To receive the report in CD format please call the SEEDA Communications team on +44 (0)1483 484200.

"This is especially so in the South East which is already densely populated and will be the focus of much physical and economic development in the coming decades. We are a dry part of the country and must therefore manage our finite supplies carefully. We have large areas of low-lying land and have to ensure that we do not increase the risks of serious flooding. We must make sure that our rivers and watercourses stay clean, and we must safeguard our outstanding wetland wildlife havens.

"Above all our task is to achieve sustainable management of water. That means wise long term planning. There are many tough challenges and also exciting opportunities. Future generations will be affected by the decisions we take now and in the coming years. Water is so fundamental to the future that we cannot afford to get it wrong."
Graham Setterfield, Chairman, South East Water Resources Forum

SEEDA is a key player in the South East Water Resources Forum

What is the South East Water Resources Forum?

The South East Water Resources Forum is an informal grouping of organisations and individuals that have an interest in any aspect of water in the South East. It was set up in 2002 and is jointly sponsored by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the Environment Agency

Why was it set up?

South East England faces many challenges associated with water, including water supply and demand, flooding, water quality and the environment; these challenges are being accentuated by the impacts of population growth, economic development and climate change.

The Forum's aim is to ensure that development in the region is sustainable, by engaging key stakeholders in responding to the water challenges and by identifying and promoting practical solutions.

Who are the members of the Forum?

Membership of the Forum is free and is open to anyone with an interest in water. There are currently over 100 organisations and individuals represented, including the water industry, planners and policy makers, developers, voluntary bodies, academic institutions, the land-based sector and environmental organisations.

How will the Forum seek to bring about change?

There are many organisations already engaged in water issues, so the Forum has to add value and do things that others can't. Its strength is the breadth of its membership, and it is therefore well placed to make strong representations at a regional level on issues where there is broad consensus. It is also in a unique position to bring together the conflicting interests from within its membership and try to broker solutions. Some of the key themes will be:

• Influencing long term strategic planning
• Raising awareness of water issues and action needed
• Identifying and championing best practice across the Region
• Promoting an integrated and holistic approach to water management

What is the Forum doing to address the region's water challenges?

The Forum holds an Annual Conference, and in 2002 and 2003 it served to raise awareness of water issues in the South East. It also enabled members of the Forum and other partners to give their views on what action the Forum should take to meet the water challenges.

The Executive has used this feedback to develop a programme of work that complements the work already being done by individual organisations and agencies. In addition to setting up these web pages and hosting an annual conference, the priority areas that emerged included:

• Input to water policies in the South East Plan
• Influencing implementation of the Water Framework Directive and Water Act
• Encouraging water efficiency and conservation
• Promoting integrated water management in river catchments

The Forum's Work

The Forum's Work Plan has been built around the feedback from members at the Annual Conferences. The advice has been that the Forum's work should:

• Add value
• Result in action
• Bring partners together
• Take a long-term view
• Develop holistic approaches
• Raise awareness
• Promote best practice

The subject matter that members have raised as priorities includes:

• Strategic planning
• River catchment management
• Water efficiency and conservation
• New legislation

Current Work Priorities

With the benefit of this advice the Forum's Executive Committee has prepared a Work Plan and set up small working groups to address the most important topics. A summary of the progress to date and proposed action for each topic is given below:

Input to the South East Plan

The South East Plan is the Spatial Strategy that will replace existing Regional Planning Guidance. It is being prepared by the South East England Regional Assembly and will cover the period 2006-2026. A first draft will be produced by late 2004 and after full consultation is expected to undergo Public Examination in early 2006.

Management of water resources, flooding, water quality and the water environment will be a critical element of the Plan. The Regional Assembly has invited the Water Resources Forum to contribute to the development of the first draft, giving the Forum an early opportunity to ensure that sound water policies are incorporated from the outset, before formal consultation takes place.

In order to coordinate the views of its members, the Forum's Annual Conference in May 2004 will be on the theme of the South East Plan, and the output from the event will be used to inform the Forum's input to the draft Plan. The Executive Committee will maintain close contact with the Regional Assembly as work on the Plan progresses and will compile responses to formal public consultations.

The Water Framework Directive

The Water Framework Directive is one of the most far-reaching pieces of environmental legislation ever and was transposed into English and Welsh law at the end of 2003. It is based on integrated river basin catchment systems and sets out to ensure that water bodies reach and maintain good ecological status.

Water Efficiency and Conservation

Domestic water consumption per head of population in the South East is higher than in any other part of the UK, yet the region has a low rainfall and is densely populated. It is clear therefore that improvements in water efficiency must play a key role in ensuring that development is sustainable in terms of its use of natural resources.

The Forum welcomes the establishment of 'ecoSE', a partnership led by the Environment Agency, which seeks to promote high standards of sustainable design in new housing in the South East, including water efficiency. The Forum has identified that domestic water consumption is the main area to target, and that the existing housing stock must be addressed as well as new developments. It believes that more efficient domestic appliances can make a significant difference, but that metering and changes in consumer habits are also vital elements.

The Forum will develop a programme to raise awareness and promote best practice amongst the major stakeholders, including planners and development control officers, appliance manufacturers, developers and consumers.

Management of River Catchments

A holistic approach to water management within river catchments was one of the priorities flagged up early on by Forum members, and work in the West Country has shown that there is considerable potential for economic, social and environmental gains to be made from integrated management practices.

Royal Holloway Institute for Environmental Research, supported by several other members of the Executive, has been carrying out a scoping study into the opportunities for sustainable management of water in three river catchments across the Region: the Great Stour in East Kent, the Kennet in Berkshire and the Darent which straddles the Kent/London boundary.

On the strength of the scoping work, a bid for EU LIFE funding was submitted in late 2003 for a three-year implementation phase, with match funding coming from Forum partners. It is expected that the outcome of the bid will be known by the middle of 2004.

Annual Conference

The Conference is the Forum's main event of the year, and represents a major opportunity to raise awareness among stakeholders and for the Executive to receive advice and feedback from members to help shape its future work.

After two successful conferences that have covered a broad range of issues, it is proposed that the 2004 Conference will concentrate on a single strategic issue – the South East Plan. Part of the Conference will comprise workshop sessions to draw together members' views that will form the basis of the Forum's advice to the Regional Assembly on water issues.

For further information on any aspect of water, please contact: martinbolton@seeda.co.uk.