Notice

Yorkshire Water Services Limited (NPS/WR/027156): application made to impound water

Published 7 December 2017

This notice was withdrawn on 12 February 2018

The consultation period for this application has ended. You can view current licences on the Public Registers.

Applies to England

Details of the application

Yorkshire Water Services Limited (YW) has applied to the Environment Agency for three licences.

The Environment Agency is giving notice of these applications in accordance with Section 37 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and Regulation 6 of the Water Resources (Abstraction and Impounding) Regulations 2006.

The applications are for impoundment licences to allow YW to vary the release of water (compensation flows) from three of their reservoirs at National Grid References SD 93 32, SD 95 32 and SD 93 32 (Gorple Lower, Walshaw Dean Lower and Widdop) following flow trials YW carried out since 1 October 2007. The purpose of the flow trials was to secure appropriate flow regimes for Graining Water, Alcomden Water, and Hebden Water under Water Framework Directive (WFD) following the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water WFD investigations.

The release of water from the above reservoirs to Hebden Water through Graining Water and Alcomden Water is specified in section 5 of the Third Schedule of the Calderdale Water Board Order 1961 as amended by section 4 (Compensation Water) of the Calderdale Water Board Order 1964 and varied by Yorkshire River Authority on 27th July 1966. The application is also to revoke the relevant sections of the Halifax Corporation Act 1898, Halifax Corporation Waterworks and Improvement Act 1868 and Halifax Corporation Act 1922 which authorised the construction of the above reservoirs. The details currently controlled in those sections of the Acts would be controlled by the impoundment licences.

The application is also to revoke the following sections of Acts of Parliament in relation to compensation releases and gauges: section 5 of Halifax Corporation Act 1849, section 15 of Halifax Corporation Act 1898, section 17 of Halifax Corporation Waterworks Act 1888, sections 13 and 14 of Halifax Corporation Waterworks and Improvement Act 1868.

The current legal requirement is for YW to maintain a minimum compensation flow of 4,400,000 gallons per day in Hebden Water. The required compensation flow may be released from any one or more of the above mentioned reservoirs.

YW are proposing to vary the above compensation flow required in Hebden Water as follows:

Gorple Lower reservoir

To release 2.7 megalitres of water per day (all year)

Walshaw Dean Lower reservoir

To release 3.78 megalitres of water per day (January to September) and 15.12 megalitres of water per day (October to December).

If the reservoir stock reduces to 50% or lower during October to December, the compensation flow will be reduced to 7.56MI/d to preserve the reservoir winter stock.

Widdop reservoir

To release 3.24 megalitres of water per day (January to September) and 12.96 megalitres of water per day (October to December).

If the reservoir stock reduces to 50% or lower during October to December, the compensation flow will be reduced to 6.48MI/d to preserve the reservoir winter stock.

How to view the application

You can view the application and supporting documents, during normal office hours at the Environment Agency:

Lateral House
8 City Walk
Leeds
LS11 9AT

You can view a summary of each application from the Public Register at the above address during normal office hours.

How to comment on the application

Send any representation about these applications in writing, quoting the name of the applicant and Reference Numbers NPS/WR/027156, NPS/WR/027159 and NPS/WR/027161 to the Environment Agency, at:

Permitting and Support Centre
Water Resources Team
Quadrant 2
99 Parkway Avenue
Sheffield
S9 4WF

Or by email to: PSC-WaterResources@environment-agency.gov.uk

By 4 January 2018.

For advice about how to make a representation call 03708 506 506.