London scoping - ukcip

Final Report
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consider recreation and conservation. Thames Water is additionally responsible for collecting
and treating waste water, for collecting trade effluent and maintenance of the sewer system.
The potential effects of climate change on water companies’ business can include the
following: reduction in quantities of both groundwater and surface water available for
abstraction; lower flows in rivers leading to reduced effluent dilution; additional stresses on
mains and sewage networks due to increased ground movement; increased amounts of sewage
effluent during storm events; and increased and higher peak demands during hot weather.
Water companies take account of climate change in the planning process as part of their overall
approach to business risk. Companies put contingency plans in place to ensure the maintenance
of services given the expected climate change impacts. This is because the time scales
necessary to undertake major capital construction schemes involve taking decisions now, which
may not lead to completion of the scheme for another 20 years, when climate change impacts
may be more fully realised.
The potential impacts of climate change on the requirement for new developments e.g. water
resources, wastewater treatment and the management of existing assets, is informed by water
industry research and regulatory requirements. The UK water industry research group (UKWIR
- funded by water companies) is carrying out a number of climate change related projects
including:
• Phase III of a study examining the impacts of climate change on water quality.
This phase will develop modelling tools; and
• A study on the hydraulic capacity of sewers.
The outcome of these studies will be used to inform water company asset development plans.
However, in relation to water resource requirements, more research needs to be carried out on
the relative significance of catchment land use and climate change.
Other research projects funded by water companies are addressing amelioration of climate
change impacts. One example is Thames Water’s Thames Tideway Strategic Study which is
currently assessing the environmental impact of storm sewage discharges to the tideway and is
also considering what improvements (and associated costs) may be desirable with a view to
developing technical solutions. This study recognises that climate change predictions for more
frequent storms could aggravate water quality problems.
8.4.4 Local Authorities
London’s Local Authorities have a key role as community leaders and service providers. Many
have, as part of their Unitary Development Plans and Local Agenda 21 strategies, addressed
some of the issues raised by potential climate change effects. Local authorities work with key
stakeholders, public sector agencies and business and have a key statutory role in a number of
areas which may be affected by climate change including transport, the environment and
housing.
Local authorities provide a range of services that could be affected by climate change including:
• Social services including those for people with disabilities and the elderly;
• Land use planning and development control. The strategic planning aspects of this
role and the implications of climate change are explored above for the GLA;