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Rainfall has continued from 2007 through 2008 to be of substantial benefit to water levels
in the local aquifer but, thankfully, everybody remains diligent regarding their concerns
upon sustainability of local requirements. Three Valleys Water have found that with the
continuing installation of water meters that they are confident of being able to meet the
local requirements of inhabitants and business until about 2028. The metering as proposed in the Draft
Water Resources Plan will begin in 2010 subject to funding by OFWAT.
This, of course, is based on the assumption that local inhabitant and business respect
the need to use water sensibly.
The potential excessive development as contained in the Growth at Hemel Hempstead Strategy
remains a major concern with regard to the provision of water. Whether the current global
economic situation impacts either the planned provision of additional housing, or the
improvements to the local water infrastructure, remains to be seen. We must continue
to promote our aims and objectives in these matters regardless.
We have previously recommended that neighbourhood philosophy promoted by Jellicoe at the outset
of the New Town would allow the maximum benefit in terms of water conservation and energy
conservation. It continues to be important that we keep in mind the fact that the existing
level of population requires water that already exceeds the amount that can sustainably be
abstracted from the local aquifer. It is illogical that neither the Environment Agency, nor
Three Valleys Water, are required to be consulted regarding the availability of water before
Central Government sanctions any large scale development such as Hemel Hempstead is currently facing.
Consequences of the Buncefield Oil Terminal Disaster remain of concern, but nothing can be
moved forward in this regard until the current investigations are completed.
This year has seen a wide variety of meetings with community groups such as the Chiltern
Society Rivers and Wetlands Conservation Group, the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project and
the Ver Valley Society. We have also attended many meetings with such organisations
as the Environmental Agency, Three Valleys Water and Thames Water which will hopefully
continue through 2009 to mutual advantage.
This year the Defwg will be also focusing on the River Action Plan for the Bulbourne,
Gade and Ver. This is due to be finalised shortly, following a short consultation period.
Defwg will commit to their actions in the rivers plan, as well as trying to move forward
other projects that partners have agreed.
Regular perusal of the DEFWG Website Map will provide summaries of how these matters
progress together with the issues involved.
Roger Hands, 27th October, 2008
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