Our goal is to seek opportunities to reduce our consumption of natural resources by using alternatives where possible, and by optimising efficiency of use, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment.
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. These systems are at various stages of maturity throughout our businesses and are being integrated into the overall systems for managing the business.
At Veolia Water Central the environmental management, health and safety, and quality system is integrated into the company Balanced Scorecard, a management tool which is presented to the Board and Executive Management regularly. During the year the company achieved certification of its environmental management system to ISO 14001 for all its production sites. Veolia Water East's environmental management system was certified to ISO 14001 during the year. This means the environmental management systems of all Veolia Water UK businesses are now 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. In 2008/9 on a like-for-like basis (water supply, offices and transport), these amounted to just over 122,000 tonnes, the same as 1995/96. In 2008/9 we expanded the scope to include other gases and air conditioning plant, bringing the total to almost 130,000 tonnes. The emissions for Stirling Water Seafield, which manages Edinburgh's wastewater, amounted to just under 19,000 tonnes; thirty per cent of Stirling Water Seafield'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 2008-9, we estimate that 61% (2007-8: 53%) of the material excavated by us and our contractors was recycled rather than being sent to landfill. We have an ongoing target to reduce waste. 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, and 75% of that generated by our commercial businesses, was 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.