United Utilities Worker inserting Fence posts part of project SCaMP

United Utilities Worker inserting fence posts

Rural Action, Example of Excellence

United Utilities Water Plc- Sustainable Catchment Management Plc

Northern Foods Rural Action Award
Example of Excellence

“Our aim is to provide best value utility services to our customers in a way that is sustainable, environmentally responsible and reflects our wider social impact.”

Philip GreenCEO

United Utilities owns and operates the water and wastewater networks in the North West of England and manages the surrounding catchment areas to collect and store water in reservoirs before treating it and delivering it to homes and industry across the region. United Utilities also collects and treats the wastewater from homes and businesses, before returning it safely to the environment.

The Story

Map of the SCaMp project in the North West

The initial Sustainable Catchment Management Programme (SCaMP) was the first England and Wales water industry sustainable land management initiative to restore and enhance water catchment and moorland areas and to introduce more sustainable land management practices. The programme is supported by the tenant farmers who have changed their farming practices to improve water quality.

The aim of SCaMP programme to date has been:

1.     to ensure the viability of United Utilities' tenant farmers;

2.     to protect and improve raw water quality;

3.     to improve the condition of United Utilities’ landholdings in line with the government Public Service Agreement target of 95% of SSSI to be brought into target condition by 2010; and

4.     to enhance the biodiversity of United Utilities’ landholdings.

Key activity is the production and implementation of individual farm plans including the restructuring of 56 farms, modifications to existing buildings, new or modified waste handling, provision of new buildings and stock handling facilities making farms more conducive to sustainable farming.  These farm improvements enabled tenant farmers access to higher-level stewardship payments from agri-environmental schemes, improving the viability of their businesses.

SCaMP is also helping to regenerate and stabilise moorland and upland areas, through:

  • re-wetting blanket bog,
  • creating buffer strips around watercourses,
  • establishing vegetation and woodland
  • revising the stock management regime and improving heather and moorland management.

Why this programme won - Judge's Quote

“United Utilities’ SCAMP project is an innovative and unique initiative with a fabulous sense of vision and ambition. It demonstrates industry leadership and the scale of opportunity to transform the industry and therefore the lives of a lot of people whose livelihoods depend on the land.

"The fact that it has been taken as an example of best practice by the industry regulator, OFWAT, is testimony to its strength and the way in which it has been integrated into the key strategic business objectives. It goes to the heart of some of the very big issues facing rural areas.”

Paula Widdowson, Director of CSR, Northern Foods

 

Impact

Business Impacts

  • Reducing the previous deterioration in raw water quality has the potential to minimise the need for investment in additional water treatment
  • Stronger relationships developed between United Utilities and its tenant farmers

Social and Environmental Impacts

  • Involvement in SCaMP has helped secure UU’s tenant farmers an average income of >£30k p.a. through improved access to environmental stewardship schemes
  • Farm management has been made easier through use of new farm buildings, improved lambing conditions, new fences and the restoration of 5.5km of dry stone walls which have reduced stock losses
  • Local suppliers and contractors were used to carry out work, developing specialist skills and supporting the local rural economy
  • Improved condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) contributing significantly towards national and local biodiversity targets and improved water quality

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