dc.identifier.citation |
IK Mathieson, JW Knox, EK Weatherhead, J Morris,
DO Jones, AJ Yates. Optimum use of water for industry and agriculture dependent on direct
abstraction - best practice manual.
Environment Agency R&D Technical Report W157, produced by WS Atkins and
Cranfield University. 2002 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.
Background: The Water Resources Act 1991 and its preceding legislation provides
the Environment Agency with the means to manage water resources through the
licensing of abstractions. Detailed demand forecasting techniques are available
to EA staff when assessing the need for Public Water Supply applications, but
there is currently little guidance concerning the water needs of industry and
agriculture. This report provides information on the optimum water requirements
of different agricultural and industrial practices, and will allow EA staff to
assess whether an existing or proposed abstraction is taking the appropriate
quantities of water for an identified purpose. The report is divided into three
main sections, Agriculture, Industry and Potential Future Research.
- Agriculture: Optimum water requirements for irrigation demand have been
defined for varying agroclimatic conditions and soil types within England and
Wales. Irrigation look up tables have been developed to enable EA staff to
determine the dry year irrigation demand for principal irrigated crops including
early potatoes, main crop potatoes, sugar beet, cereals, grass, vegetables,
orchard fruit and small fruit. The look up tables are based on seven
agroclimatic zones of Potential Soil Moisture Deficit (PSMD), and three main
classes of soil Available Water Capacity (AWC). To illustrate the use of the
tables a worked example is included, showing the estimation of the annual
irrigation requirements for 40 hectares (ha) of main crop potatoes, 40 ha of
sugar beet and 100 ha of cereals. Further background information is also
provided on the efficiency of irrigation systems, the value of irrigation
scheduling and the cost benefits of irrigation. The report also provides data on
stock water requirements for dairy, beef, pigs, sheep, and poultry.
- Industry: Water consumption data has been collected from a wide range of
sources including published literature and industry contacts, to generate a
series of look up tables for a wide range of industrial processes. The aim of
the tables is to allow EA staff to calculate an initial estimate of the water
needs for a particular site, in order to assess whether existing or proposed
abstraction levels are reasonable. Two worked examples are provided, considering
the manufacture of lead acid batteries and medium density fibreboard, to
illustrate how the tables should be used in practice. In addition to water
consumption data, the tables provide information on the water using steps within
each industrial process and the potential water saving initiatives which could
be employed to reduce future consumption.
- Conclusions and Recommendations: The data in this report provides an
authoritative source of water use figures which will enable Environment Agency
licensing staff to audit licence applications more confidently. Additionally the
data will assist the Environment Agency in promoting best practice water use
amongst its customers and throughout the water industry. The report is seen as a
working document and should be periodically updated with new and revised
information. Recommendations on how the research could be further developed are
set out in Section 3.0. |
en_UK |
dc.subject |
Water, Consumption, Demand, Industry, Agriculture, Irrigation, Efficiency,
Licensing, Abstraction |
en_UK |