In the Environment

Environmental management

Formal environmental, as well as health and safety, and quality systems, are fundamental to our aim of continuously improving our performance.

The environmental management, systems of all Veolia Water UK businesses are certified to ISO 14001. Veolia Water Southeast and the majority of Veolia Water Outsourcing businesses have integrated management systems which additionally meet the requirements of ISO 9001 (quality management) and OHSAS 18001 (occupational health management).

Managing responsibly... What do we do?

Society's demand for water has to be met efficiently and economically. Veolia Water UK's task is to balance the demand for water against the availability of water resources in the areas where we operate, whilst protecting the environment and caring for the communities in which we live and work. Due to the pressure on water resources in our supply area this requires innovative solutions.

Catchment protection

The water resources balance is not just threatened by rising demand, droughts and climate change. If raw waters become polluted, they may become temporarily or permanently unusable, reducing the amount of water available to use. Protecting the quality of raw waters is a key part of sustainable water resources management. Our companies do not act alone in this; the Environment Agency monitors and protects the catchment, prosecuting those responsible for pollution offences.

Water losses

In line with a Veolia Environnement objective to control industrial water consumption, the companies record the amount of water taken from the environment relative to water put into supply.

Climate change

Water is heavy to move around: pumping it from underground and surface sources, treating it and distributing it around networks uses large amounts of electricity, which is mainly generated from fossil fuels. To increase energy efficiency we have a phased inspection and replacement programme for pump motors. Where appropriate we install variable speed pumps.

We have recorded our annual carbon dioxide emissions associated with our energy requirements for water supply, offices and transport since 1996. Carbon dioxide emissions for 2009/10 amounted to some 126,500 tonnes, a 4% increase on the previous year. Emissions for the Almond Valley, Seafield & Esk (AVSE) contract which manages greater Edinburgh's wastewater amounted to 24,900 tonnes; 42% of AVSE's energy consumption was self-generated from biogas. Part of Veolia Water Outsourcing's offering is to optimise operation of their clients' assets and help them manage their carbon impacts.

The impacts of climate change are factored into our plans for adapting to the effects of extreme temperatures and weather events, more intensive rainfall, flooding, coastal erosion and sea water intrusion.

Reducing waste

We monitor our use of aggregates and encourage our contractors who maintain the water networks to use "no dig" trenchless technology where possible and to re-use excavated material. In 2009-10, we estimate that 72% of the material excavated by us and our contractors was diverted from landfill for recycling (2008-9: 61%). We have an ongoing target to reduce waste going to landfill. Read here how our successful partnerships have helped us reduce waste, and win a Business in the Community "Big Tick" for environmental leadership.

All the treatment waste generated by our water supply companies during the year re-used as a soil conditioner on agricultural land.

Transport and travel

The water companies promote the use of cleaner fuels and vehicles with low emission levels for their fleet. Driver training and in-vehicle software that allows drivers to organise their workday instead of returning to depot, help to optimise fuel consumption.

All the water companies have tele- and videoconferencing facilities in order to reduce the amount of time and energy staff spend in travelling to inter-company meetings.

Biodiversity

Our policy is to give particular priority to projects and activities that foster species and habitats which are the subject of Biodiversity Action Plans and are found on our own and adjacent land.

Veolia Water Central has partnered with Friends of Stockers Lake and the Hertfordshire & Middlesex Wildlife Trust to conserve Stockers Lake, which is home to a wetland bird population. The company has carried out biodiversity surveys at 12 sites on its landholdings and developed management plans to improve habitats.

Veolia Water Southeast has partnered with the White Cliffs Countryside Project, which works to protect and enhance the countryside in south east Kent, and Water for Wildlife which works to protect wetland habitats.

Veolia Water East is a long-standing member of the Essex Wildlife Trust.