We have a very special responsibility to protect and enhance the species and habitats that exist within our region. We have an amazingly rich and diverse natural habitat on our doorstep. 60% of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in our region are wetlands, which makes our region unique but emphasises how important our responsibility is on water stewardship. Find out more about our SSSIs.
What we are doing
Biodiversity
Our 10-year Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is now complete. We are planning our next BAP for 2010 - 2020 in order to continue to manage the species and habitats on our sites.
We have already identified potential locations where we could enhance populations of dormice, natterjack toads and fen orchids. Our award-winning biodiversity field guide was published in December 2008 and distributed to all field-based employees. This gives details of the identification and management of protected species and habitats. Due to the success of the field guide, we will be republishing it for external audiences.
Re-introduction of species
Working with the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, our osprey project had another record year in 2010 when five pairs of ospreys raised 12 chicks. Meanwhile, in Norfolk, the pool frogs that we reintroduced with Natural England and the Herpetological Conservation Trust are breeding successfully. For out more about our biodiversity performance.
Going beyond our obligations
Our regulatory responsibility for environmental water quality ends when we return treated wastewater back into the environment. But as a company who cares passionately about the environment we rely on for such a precious resource, we feel our obligations shouldn’t stop there. That’s why we introduced our RiverCare programme run jointly with the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy. RiverCare enables community groups to take an active role in improving the quality of their local waterside areas.
This year alone, volunteers collected almost 9,000 bin bags full of litter from the region’s rivers. The programme, now in its 10th year has grown to just under 50 local RiverCare groups jointly having 1,000 members.
The programme has won a number of awards for its sculptures that were made from recovered shopping trolleys. The sculptures were commissioned to raise awareness of the kind of things people dump into rivers and encourage more people to get involved in setting up or joining their local RiverCare group. More information is available at rivercare.org.uk.
Aiming for zero waste
Our goal is to be a zero waste company by 2025. Our largest potential source of waste is the sludge left after treating wastewater. This year 100% of sludge was recycled for agriculture or land reclamation. Nothing went to landfill! In addition, 80% of sludge from our water treatment process and 82% of construction waste was diverted from landfill to beneficial use. We are working on the rest of our waste, for example grit from roads and roofs and rags (toilet paper) from the wastewater treatment process, so that by 2025 no waste will go to landfill.