Burton, A.H. (2010) Water resources management and participation – best practice in the UK and Australia, gaps and future options, Water Resources Management Scientific Network Seminar, 1-2 June 2010, IDS, Sussex University, Brighton - UK http://www.redectidoce.com.br/wrmdp-net/arquivos/Aaron-Burton-Wales-Seminar2010-WMRDP-Network.pdf

1. Water resources management and
participation – best practice in the
UK and Australia
Aaron Burton
WRM Scientific Network 1-2 June 2010
IDS, Sussex University, Brighton

2. Outline
Pressures on water resources
Sustainable development and water resources
management – linking with participation
UK Examples
Regulatory and WRM reform
Analysis of current regulation
Australian Examples
Conclusions
Proposed questions

3. Pressures on water resources –
Western Australia

4. Pressures on Water Resources - England and Wales

5. Demand scenarios – England and Wales

6. Demand Scenarios – Western Australia

7. Carbon mitigation

8. Water Resources Strategy for England and
Wales
Enough water for people and the environment: “Management and use of
water that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable,
providing the right amount of water for people, agriculture, commerce and
industry, and an improved water-related environment”
Where does participation fit?

9. Participation the act of taking part in an activity or event
Definition – devolved or distributed
governance, stakeholder consultation, forums,
in the market, social licence
Where does it fit?
Abstraction management
Water resources planning
Retail – consumers
All of the above?

10. Water resources management and participation – best practice in
the UK and Australia
UK EXAMPLES

11. Water Resources Management – Regulatory
Reform
Future Water and WAG SPPS on Water
Cave Review
Reform abstraction, upstream and retail competition for water,
need to agree priorities – stakeholders; water quality trading and
standards (local sustainability – reduce emissions)
Walker Review
Recommendation 65 – public involvement in future issues affecting
bills, particularly proposals for quality improvements
Processes
WRMP – public consultation, WTP, SEA issues
PR09 – WTP
A low carbon water industry 2050

12. Governance architectures

13. Policy Areas Objectives State Market Governance Behaviour
Based change
Supply
Water abstraction Improved allocation •Licensing •Limited •Abstractor groups
management to optimise social, system and licence
environmental and CAMS trading
economic benefits •Restoring
Reduce abstraction sustainable
to sustainable levels abstraction
Maintain (RSA)
sustainable levels of programme
abstraction and – s51
security of public voluntary,
water supplies s52 revoke
Public water Reducing costs to •Combined •Comparativ •Statutory Water
supply and water customers water and e Resource
industry structures Innovation and sewerage competition Management
environmental licence for and price Plans with public
performance/ undertakers review consultation
funding process
Low carbon water •Competition
industry for the
market
Water customers Reducing costs to •Combined •Consulted in •Consumer
customers water and willingness to pay advice and
Increasing levels of sewerage and other studies representation
service licence for Stakeholder (CCWater)
undertakers inclusion within
WFD

14. Policy Areas Objectives State Market Based Governance Behaviour change
Demand
Water Reduce demand and •Water Supply (Water •Ofwat targets on •Small scale
efficiency therefore abstraction Fittings) Regulations water companies projects and
from the environment •Building Regulations •ECA tax incentives tariff trials
Reduce carbon •Planning standards
emissions from supply, (CSH, etc.)
use and disposal
Leakage Reduce demand and •Ofwat targets on •Pressure
Management therefore abstraction water companies from media/
from the environment public
perception
Water Quality
Point source Reduce pollution from •Environmental permits •Operator Self •Stakeholder •OPRA,
pollution point sources in a cost (site activities, Monitoring inclusion within Account
effective manner discharges etc.) WFD and some Managemen
River basin planning catchment scale t
Environmental quality decision making
improvements
Low carbon treatment
methods
Diffuse source River basin planning [WR Act 1991 - Water •Subsidy based Stakeholder
pollution Environmental quality Protection Zones; Anti- compliance inclusion within
improvements pollution Works Notices] (CAP, Farm based WFD and some
[Groundwater grant scheme) catchment scale
regulations 2009 – •Code of practice for decision making
notices] using Land management
Plant protection •Plan Protection schemes
products regulations, products Pesticides forum
Groundwater •Organic farming Pesticides voluntary
regulations scheme and organic initiative
Nitrate Vulnerable environmental Influencing the
Zones stewardship planning process
CAP- Nitrates and LDPs

15. Water resources management and participation – best practice in
the UK and Australia
AUSTRALIAN EXAMPLES

16. Australian Case Studies
National Water Initiative – Reform measures
Addressing transboundary issues
NRM – distributed governance and links to US models
CSIRO Work
Water benefits accounting
Climate change
South West Yarragadee SA
Permanent water efficiency measures

17. Conclusions
Pressures on water resources require more
innovative and effective management regimes
Participation is part of all management
activities – gaps exist in both the UK and
Australia frameworks
Regulatory reform is fast paced
Opportunity to engage water users and
achieve local sustainable solutions

18. Questions
What is the best stage (or stages) within the policy cycle for
participation to enable a more distributed governance and
partnership approach to managing water resources?
How effective is participation through consultation compared to
broader governance arrangements for sustainable water resources
management?
What are the gaps and opportunities for participation and improved
governance approaches within water resources management in the
UK and Australia?

19. Upstream Network Retail

20. Thank you – Questions?