View/download this page as a PDF version

Introduction

By 2050 steps will need to be taken to significantly reduce demand for water, reduce wastage and manage water resources in ways that eliminate emissions and protect them for the future.

Although this work will need to be led by the water industry, the Council will have a significant role to play in this work.  Firstly, in reducing our own water demand.  And secondly, in leading the county’s flood risk management, alleviation and mitigation work.  

After detailed evidence and information gathering exercises, led by the EAP and carried out by officer working groups, it has been recommended that the Council implement the following 15 actions in relation to Water.

Milestones have been identified for each action. This plan shows the immediate  targets we will need to achieve by 2023 to keep us on track.

Objective 1

Objective overview
Objective Action type CO2 saving potential  Co-benefits  Cost 
Reduce water demand Direct, indirect Low Improves ecology, builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability, enhances health and wellbeing High
Action plan for prior objective
Actions  Action type CO2 saving potential  Co-benefits  Cost  2021-23 target 

Make Dorset Council Buildings water efficient, by installing technologies such as flow regulators, water efficient toilets & shower heads

 Direct Low Improves ecology, encourages economic sustainability High
  • Audit programme developed & initiated
  • 50 buildings retrofitted (25 a year) by 2023
Reduce / replace demand on mains water within Dorset Council buildings by installing technologies such as rainwater harvesting and grey water systems Direct Low Improves ecology, encourages economic sustainability High Future target 

beyond 2023
Provide information to residents and businesses on reducing water consumption, helping to improve understanding of the issues and solutions to better water management, reducing bills and carbon emissions Direct Low Improves ecology, builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability, enhances health and wellbeing Medium
  • Meetings held with water companies
  • Content created & made available to residents by 2021
Ensure procurement specification favours water efficient equipment Direct Low Improves ecology, encourages economic sustainability None

Procurement specification updated by 2021

Ensure water use is minimised and reuse is optimised in new developments

 Direct Medium Improves ecology, builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability None

Policy developed & communicated by 2023

Objective 2

Objective overview
Objective Action type CO2 saving potential  Co-benefits  Cost 

Reduce wasted waster

 Direct, partnership/influence Low Improves ecology, builds resilience Medium
Action plan for prior objective
Actions  Action type CO2 saving potential  Co-benefits  Cost  2021-23 target 
Carry out an in-depth assessment of water leaks across the Council’s estate Direct Low Improves ecology Low  Water leak tests carried out at 50 sites (25 sites a year) by 2023

Liaise with water companies to ensure water leaks are identified and eliminated in Dorset

 Partnership/influence  Medium Improves ecology, builds resilience  Medium

Meetings held with water companies + plans assessed
by 2021

Objective 3

Objective overview
Objective Action type CO2 saving potential  Co-benefits  Cost 

Increase Resilience to Climate Change

 Indirect, partnership/influence Low Improves ecology, builds resilience, encourages economic sustainability, enhances health and wellbeing  None
Action plan for prior objective
Actions  Action type CO2 saving potential  Co-benefits  Cost  2021-23 target 
Avoid developments in flood risk areas & areas subject to tidal surges and coastal erosion Indirect None Improves ecology, builds resilience, enhances health and wellbeing None

Policy developed & communicated by 2023
Identify areas at risk from flooding & ensure adequate protection is in place  Indirect  None Builds resilience, enhances health and wellbeing None 
  • Top 10 communities at risk identified
  • Investigations prioritised
  • Funding requirements identified by 2022
Work with water companies to ensure:-
  • climate resilience is being addressed
  • sufficient supplies of good quality water will be available for Dorset Residents
  Partnership/influence  Low Improves ecology, encourages economic sustainability, enhances health and wellbeing None
  • Meeting held with water companies
  • Plans reviewed & assessed by 2021

 
Raising awareness to Riparian owners to maintain water courses to prevent flooding  Partnership/influence  None Improves ecology, builds resilience, enhances health and wellbeing None  
  • Awareness raising materials developed
  • Message communicated to residents by 2021

Objective 4

Objective overview
Objective Action type CO2 saving potential  Co-benefits  Cost 
Protect water supplies Direct, indirect, partnership/influence None Improves ecology, builds resilience, enhances health and wellbeing None
Action plan for prior objective
Actions  Action type CO2 saving potential  Co-benefits  Cost  2021-23 target 
Carry out audit of all Dorset Council sites holding materials hazardous to water quality to ensure correct storage is in place & ensure pollution prevention equipment is properly maintained. Direct None Improves ecology, enhances health and wellbeing

None
  • Water protection measures included in PRP Refresher training and on relevant training matrix by 2021
  • All sites audited by 2022
  • Schedule for future audits in place by 2022

Work with Environment Agency to ensure all high risk industrial and farming areas in Dorset have been identified and appropriate pollution prevention measures are in place

 Partnership/influence None Improves ecology, enhances health and wellbeing

None

 Meeting held with EA

Plans reviewed & 
assessed by 2022

Work with partners to promote land management practices that prevent polluting water courses and ensure good water management

 Partnership/influence None Improves ecology, builds resilience None Plan developed & initiated by 2022

Work with County Farms and Green Spaces to ensure land management practices protect water supplies

  Indirect None Improves ecology, builds resilience None
  • Land management practices reviewed by 2021
  • Guidance developed by 2022
  • Guidance communicated to County Farms by 2022

  •