What is Water Neutrality?
Water Neutrality was conceived to indicate the need to reduce the overall water consumption and demand on our natural water resource. The refined definition of water neutrality is “for every new development, the predicted increase in total water demand in the region due to the development should be offset by reducing demand in the existing community” (Environment Agency, 2009).
The advice of Natural England is that:
“For every new development, total water use after the development must be equal to or less than the total water-use in the region before the new development."
Development proposals that would lead to a material increase in water demand will need to demonstrate ‘water neutrality’. This means that there would be no increase in water consumption, demonstrated by a combination of water efficiency, water recycling and offsetting measures. This should be demonstrated in a water budget, showing the baseline and proposed water consumption and mitigation measures proposed. This must be submitted as part of the planning application.
Long Term Approach
Given existing pressures, both environmental and developmental, achieving Water Neutrality is likely to remain necessary for as long as the adverse effect risk from water supply abstraction continues, more local authorities will be requesting and conditioning Water Neutrality Statements from new developments going forward.
Currently, developments that are in the Sussex North Water Supply Zone, this includes parts of the Chichester, Horsham and Arun areas of the SDNP, will need to demonstrate Water Neutrality on development proposals.
How can we help you achieve this?
We can provide you with a water neutrality report to demonstrate ‘water neutrality’ calculating the water budget on your development.
