‘broadly flat’ - while cutting investment from £3.2bn to £2.6bn. United Utilities, based in the North West, will reduce spending from £4bn to £3.7bn, but will also cut its planned annual price rise from 2.7% to 1.8%. Regina Finn, the chief executive
of Ofwat, said: ‘Consumers are at the heart of our decision making. We will now scrutinise final business plans and challenge them as necessary. We will do everything possible to secure sustainable, value-for-money services for consumers. No-one wants to see bills increasing, particularly in such tough economic times. However, it is too early for anyone to be analysing the impact of these proposals. This is just another stage in our decision making process. We will announce our draft determinations on price limits in July. Before doing so, we will make sure each plan takes full account of customers’ concerns and does so as efficiently as possible’.” All that lot means is that the costs of water supply are on the up, and will be significantly so in the very near future.
A story of my own - a long time ago, but very relevant now, I believe.
When working as a golf course manager, the question of water costs came up as we were considering the installation of a new automatic irrigation system. There was no question of the need - all the discussions about when water should be applied for the plant’s benefit (and, of course, the players) as well as the appearance and playability of the golf course, were given a great deal of attention. One of our committee - I cannot take the credit
(someone told me once, it’s not who’s idea it is that matters as long as it’s a good one - how true!) - mentioned looking into water self sufficiency, and this was more than twenty years ago!
So, we looked at all the alternatives and decided on sinking a bore hole - I will not bore you with the details (no pun intended) but safe to say it was an enlightening experience and one which will never be forgotten (I learned a lot). Anyway, to cut a very long story short, two years later we were pulling water from our new bore hole and using it (wisely) to irrigate our golf course by means of our new automatic irrigation system. The cost comparison:
• Pre bore hole - £3.5K to £5K per annum on average for mains water
• Post bore - £180 for a licence to abstract 1.25 million gallons per annum - we only used approximately 50%, so were only charged £90!
• The bore hole cost around £23K so, after year five, we
had recouped our costs and were seriously saving money - even now said to be the best decision ever made in the club’s history
The reason for such vast differences in cost is that when you buy mains water you get it from your water authority, who maintain the infrastructure to be able to supply you with the quantity and quality to satisfy your needs.
When you become self sufficient you deal directly with the Environment Agency, so you effectively cut out the middle man. Remember, these figures
were based on the situation twenty years ago - water is much more expensive now - but, in our experience, self sufficiency water projects have become very streamlined and, therefore, much more cost effective.
Self Sufficiency in water - it makes so much sense ...
• You collect and keep your water (reservoirs, storage tanks etc)
• You pay very little, other than the cost of installation of a bespoke system (a one off cost which can be offset over many year and, in some cases, may even work out less than your current and future water bills!)
• You assist the Environment Agency in helping to prevent flooding risks in times of heavy rainfall
• You are better perceived in the area of environmental consideration relating to water usage, conservation and run off
Summary
We have a vast and diverse industry and, in regard to area used and irrigation requirements, we range from the smallest of gardens to the largest sports and golf club complexes (some with seven full size golf courses) with practice facilities, driving ranges etc.
Add to this the differing
water requirements for any given surface, from a small trickle to giant water cannons, and the difference is enormous with each particular customer’s requirement being unique. The only way to move
forward is to look at your own situation, with the help of a reputable irrigation and water management company, who will give their time free of charge in the best interests of long term business, and to satisfy your need as a customer.
Duncan McGilvray, Managing Director, Enviropro H20 Limited, Irrigation & Water Management Specialists
www.enviroproh2o.com 81
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140