The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy

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www.environment-agency.gov.uk/cams
The Test and Itchen

Catchment Abstraction
Management Strategy
Final Strategy
March 2006
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/cams
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Foreword
Our much valued Rivers Test and Itchen are chalk streams of the highest quality with their wealth of wildlife
including otters, salmon, trout, damselflies and water crowfoot. The delightful landscape helps to draw an
increasing number of people who live, work and play within these catchments.
This area of Hampshire is under enormous development pressure with planned new housing likely to make
increased demands on water resources.
Water is a finite resource and it is important that abstraction is managed effectively to protect the environment
and public water supply. We shall be seeking to ensure that all new developments and existing housing are
made more efficient whenever possible.
The Test and Itchen CAMS sets out the policies for managing water abstraction in the two catchments over the
next six years. The process also highlights a number of issues that require investigation and the strategy includes
actions to enable us to improve our understanding before it is reviewed between 2010–2012.
The Test and Itchen catchments will face many demands in the future and we will work hard with our partners
to achieve a balance between the needs of people and our precious water environment.
Peter Kelly
Area Manager Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Contents
1 Introduction 1
2 Consultation on the Test & Itchen CAMS 2
3 The CAMS area 3
3.1 Hydrology and Hydrogeology 3
3.2 Hydrometry 6
3.3 Abstractions and Discharges 8
3.4 Agriculture and Industry 11
3.5 Augmentation Schemes 11
3.6 Conservation Designations 11
3.7 Status of Ecology and Fisheries 14
3.8 Water Quality 15
3.9 Links with other plans and initiatives 16
3.10 Stakeholder Concerns 18
4 Resource assessment and resource availability status 19
4.1 Introduction 19
4.2 Application to the Test and Itchen CAMS 20
4.3 Resource assessment of river assessment points 20
4.4 Surface Water Resource Availability 22
4.5 Resource assessment of groundwater management units 23
4.6 Integration of the surface water and groundwater resource assessments 23
4.7 Definition of Water Resource Management Units 24
4.8 Areas which are not in Water Resource Management Units 26
4.9 Further data needed before the next CAMS 26
5 Proposed licensing strategy 27
5.1 Sustainability appraisal 27
5.2 National Policies 27
5.3 Southern Region Policies 27
5.4 Catchment overview of proposed licensing strategy 28
5.5 WRMU 1 Upper Itchen – “No Water Available” 30
5.6 WRMU 2 Candover – “No Water Available” 32
5.7 WRMU 3 Lower Itchen – “Over-Abstracted” 34
5.8 WRMU 4 Upper Test – “No Water Available” 36
5.9 WRMU 5 Bourne – “No Water Available” 38
5.10 WRMU 6 Anton – “Over-Licensed” 40
5.11 WRMU 7 Blackwater – “No Water Available” 42
5.12 WRMU 8 Lower Test – “Over-Licensed” 44
5.13 WRMU 9 Mid Test – “No Water Available” 47
5.14 Remaining CAMS Area not within an WRMU 49
5.15 Opportunities for licence trading in the Test & Itchen CAMS 49
5.16 The Water Act 2003 49
6 Future developments in the CAMS area 50
6.1 Planning Water Resources 50
6.2 Promoting Water Efficiency 51
6.3 Climate Change 52
6.4 Water Resource Schemes relevant to the Test and Itchen CAMS Area 52
7 Post CAMS Actions 55
A1: Water efficiency contacts 56
Glossary of Terms 57
List of Acronyms, Abbreviations and Units 61
Environment Agency The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy
1
Introduction
Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS).
The Vision:
River systems of the highest quality ensuring conservation of the rich diversity of wildlife in the river and
wetland environment whilst providing for people’s social and economic needs into the forseeable future.
Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies

(CAMS) are strategies for management of water
resources at a local level. They will make more
information on water resources and licensing practice
publicly available and allow the balance between
the needs of abstractors, other water users and the
aquatic environment to be considered in consultation
with the local community and interested parties.
It should be noted that CAMS are not intended to
directly cover water quality issues but these will be
addressed in the forthcoming Water Framework
Directive River Basin Management Plans. CAMS
River Itchen near Alresford
are also the mechanism for managing time-limited
licences by determining whether they should be A technical document (Final version) for the Test and
renewed and, if so, on what terms. Itchen CAMS has been produced which provides
the detailed technical information on which the
Managing Water Abstraction: The Catchment
development of the strategy has been based.
Abstraction Management Strategy Process is the
national document that supports the development of If you wish to receive this document on CD-ROM,
CAMS at a local level. It sets out the national policy please contact us at the address below. A hard-copy
and the regulatory framework within which CAMS version of the document is also available for viewing
operate, describes the process of developing CAMS at the same office.
and provides information on the structure and content
Contact:
of CAMS documents. This strategy should be read in
conjunction with Managing Water Abstraction. Jim Whatley – Technical Officer
Water Resources
This Test and Itchen CAMS Final Strategy document
Environment Agency
sets out how much water is available in the
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Area Office
catchments and details the Environment Agency’s
Colvedene Court
policies and actions relating to the management
Wessex Way
of this water, over the next 6 years. It is recognised
Colden Common
that this first CAMS will not rectify all identified
Winchester
and possible water resource problems for these
Hampshire
catchments. However it does describe actions the
SO21 1WP
Agency will take to ratify its findings and work towards
possible solutions. It is the third of four CAMS to be
Tel: 01962 764973
produced for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Fax: 01962 841573
Email: cams.hampshire@environment-agency.gov.uk
Environment Agency Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy

2
Consultation on the Test & Itchen CAMS

Consultation is an integral part of the CAMS process. Obviously it was not possible to include
It is important because it ensures that the CAMS representatives from all organisations on the
process is as transparent as possible and gives stakeholder group. In addition to the above members
everyone the opportunity to get involved. For the other individuals were supplied with the minutes
Environment Agency to manage water resources in a of stakeholder meetings and invited to to raise
catchment effectively and sustainably, it is important comments. Those included were:
that as much information as possible is collated on
Mr John Paton Fishers Pond Fishery
water needs and uses. Comments and suggestions
Mr John Woodhead Hilliers Nurseries
have been gathered during the early stages of
Mr Andy Neve Portsmouth Water
development of this strategy through various pre-
Mr Geoff Young Portals Papermill
consultation activities. These were:
Mr Graham Smith Test Valley Borough Council
• Wide circulation of an awareness-raising leaflet Planning
• Setting up of a CAMS Stakeholder Group There was also a formal consultation on the Test &
Itchen CAMS between September and December
• Obtaining specific interest group information from
2005. There were 29 responses raising many issues
stakeholders
including the following topics:
• Contact with a wider consultation group
• Concern regarding the increase in housing in the
• Setting up of a multi-disciplinary CAMS project catchments and the ability of water resources in the
group area to cope without damage to the environment
The leaflet was distributed in August 2004. Its aim • Support for the CAMS licensing policies but
was to raise awareness of the development of the suggesting they should go further with a
CAMS in the local area and it also invited anyone with prohibition of further licensing rather than a
an interest to send in written comments, providing presumption against
information, views and suggestions for consideration
during the early development of the CAMS. • Suggestions regarding the pumping of water from
mouths of rivers to the upper reaches and aquifer
A stakeholder group was set up for the Test & Itchen
recharge
CAMS. The role of the stakeholder group was to
represent the key interests in the catchment and to • Particular concerns over the River Anton and
help identify issues of local significance, provide views Bourne Rivulet
on proposals and to consider the likely implications of
The responses received were considered when
different strategy options. The members of the Test &
finalising this strategy and will be taken into account
Itchen CAMS stakeholder group and the interests they
when implementing its actions.
represent are as follows:
A Statement of Response was issued in February 2006
Mr Tim Greenwood Chairperson
Mr Bob Lisney Hampshire County and is included in the Technical Document with a
Council summary of the responses received. A number of the
Ms Alison Graham-Smith English Nature issues raised are not covered by this strategy and have
Dr Steve Rothwell Watercress Growers been forwarded to the appropriate departments for
Association consideration.
Mr Mark Potter Water Companies
Mr Graham Roberts Hampshire & IOW
Wildlife Trust
Mr Geoff Butler National Farmers Union
Mr Jim Glasspool Test & Itchen Association
Mr Christopher
Saunders-Davies Fish Farming
Mr Terry Holden-Brown Southampton Unitary
Councillor
3
The CAMS Area

The Test & Itchen CAMS incorporates the catchments
of the River Test and River Itchen and their tributaries,
3.1. Hydrology and
an area of approximately 1760km². The rivers are Hydrogeology
regarded as two of the finest chalk streams in the
world with their crystal clear waters supporting a The geology of the Test and Itchen CAMS Area
rich diversity of mammal, bird, fish, invertebrate and is dominated by chalk (Figure 2). The chalk dips
plant communities. Both main rivers are designated gently to the south and becomes overlain by the
as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with the predominantly clay Tertiary deposits which extend
River Itchen further designated as a Special Area of over the southern part of the CAMS area. The Tertiary
Conservation (SAC) under European legislation. They deposits are much less permeable than the chalk and
are also internationally famous for their trout and hence the rivers have more tributaries in this area.
salmon fishing and are the birthplace of fly fishing. Groundwater in the chalk feeds both the River Test
and River Itchen and provides the rivers with reliable
flows of high quality water. Rainfall percolates into
the aquifer and slowly recharges it over the winter
and spring months. The groundwater catchments of
both the Test and Itchen extend beyond their surface
water catchments and derive water from the Agency’s
adjoining Thames and South West Regions.
Flows in chalk streams vary less than most other
rivers, rising to a peak in spring following the winter
rains and then receding gently until the following
autumn. Water levels fluctuate even less, higher flows
in winter being accommodated by greater velocities
while water levels in summer are maintained by
aquatic weed growth and in some cases the operation
of hatches. Water from the chalk tends to be clear,
clean and cool, with low levels of nutrients, allowing
sunshine to penetrate and maintaining high levels of
dissolved oxygen. These rivers are therefore highly
productive both in terms of wildlife, reflected by
the national and international designations, and for
River Itchen near Winchester City Mill human society, particularly in southern Hampshire
which is heavily dependent on them for water
Watercress farming has since the mid-19th century resources.
been linked with the catchments and the current
The River Test rises at Ashe near Overton and
smaller, but more intensively managed industry, is still
flows over chalk to Timsbury. It gains flow from
centred in the headwaters of both rivers.
the underlying chalk and from several spring-fed
Although the area is predominantly rural, the tributaries – the Bourne Rivulet, the Anton and
southern half contains the densely urbanised areas Pillhill Brook, the River Dever, the Wallop Brook, the
of Southampton, Eastleigh, Romsey and Winchester Somborne Stream and the River Dun. From the upper
and the north, Andover (Figure 1). The combined reaches the river widens considerably and meanders
population of well over half a million is likely to grow through a wide floodplain flanked by water meadows.
with the development suggested in the South East Within its broad valley it frequently splits to form a
Plan. network of braided channels.
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Rivers © CEH Wallingford
© Crown Copyright.
Urban Areas All rights reserved.
4 2 0 4 8 12 Environment Agency
CAMS Area Kilometers 100026380, 2006
Figure 1 – CAMS Area Overview

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Bracklesham Group
Kilometers
Bagshot Formation
London Clay
Reading Beds
© CEH Wallingford
Upper Chalk © Crown Copyright.
Rivers
All rights reserved.
Middle Chalk
Environment Agency
CAMS Area
Lower Chalk 100026380, 2006
Figure 2 – Geology
Downstream of Timsbury the river then flows over 3.2. Hydrometry
the Tertiary sands and clays to the south. The Lower
Test splits into several channels and is joined by the Water resources are monitored using a network of
River Blackwater, the Tadburn Stream and many other hydrometric stations. This data is used on a routine
small tributaries before it discharges to Southampton basis for drought and flood monitoring, water
Water at Redbridge. resource investigations and has also been used to
assess resources availability status in this CAMS.
The River Itchen rises near Cheriton and is joined
Figure 3 shows the locations of gauging stations,
by two tributaries, the River Alre and the Candover
raingauges and observation boreholes.
Stream near Alresford. The River Itchen, like the
Test, gains flow from the underlying chalk before
flowing onto Tertiary sands and clays at Otterbourne.
The river is joined by the Bow Lake Stream just
north of Bishopstoke. This small tributary drains
from Lower Upham. The Itchen enters the tidal
estuary at Woodmill where it is joined by the Monks
Brook which drains Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh and
Swaythling. In Winchester the River Itchen is split to
flow down the Itchen Navigation as well as the main
river which flows through various braided channels.
Both the Test and Itchen have been subject to
substantial modification through human use over a Flow gauging
long period of time. For much of their length, the
rivers are divided into two or more separate channels River flow is measured at the gauging stations listed
running parallel to each other with many structures to below.
regulate flows and levels. The Agency has a network of 498 monitoring
boreholes in the Test and Itchen CAMS area. 184 of
these are monitored on a monthly basis and 210 are
monitored on a six monthly basis. The remainder
are measured in exceptionally dry or wet conditions.
The vast majority of the monitoring sites record
groundwater levels in the chalk aquifer.
Table 1 I Primary Gauging Stations in the Test and Itchen CAMS Area
Gauging Station River Main Catchment
Sewards Bridge Cheriton Stream Itchen
Drove Lane River Alre Itchen
Borough Bridge Candover Stream Itchen
Easton River Itchen Itchen
Allbrook Itchen Navigation Itchen
Highbridge River Itchen Itchen
Riverside Park River Itchen Itchen
Stoneham Lane Monks Brook Itchen
Chilbolton River Test Test
Timsbury River Test Test
Longbridge River Test Test
M27 River Test Test
Testwood Great Test Test
Bourne Bourne Rivulet Test
Bransbury River Dever Test
Fullerton River Anton Test
Broughton Wallop Brook Test
Bossington Wallop Brook Test
Dunbridge River Dun Test
Romsey Tadburn Stream Test
Conagar Bridge Little Test Test
Test Back Carrier Test Back Carrier Test
Ower River Blackwater Test
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Raingauges
Observation Boreholes 4 2 0 4 8 12
River Flow Gauging Stations Kilometers

© Crown Copyright.
Environment Agency
CAMS Area 100026380, 2006
Figure 3 – Hydrometric Sites

There are 9 tipping bucket raingauges in the Test also supply the Isle of Wight with up to a quarter
and Itchen CAMS area with a further 35 observer of its public water supply requirements through a
raingauges. cross-Solent main. There are also groundwater
abstractions for public water supply from the chalk
At Otterbourne there is a climate station recording
aquifer. These range from small rural sources at
windspeed and direction, air, ground and soil
sites such as Ibthorpe, Overton and Whitchurch to
temperature, relative humidity, evaporation and
much larger groundwater sources at Otterbourne,
rainfall.
Andover and Easton. As the groundwater catchments
extend outside the defined CAMS area, there are
3.3. Abstractions and groundwater licences in other Regions of the Agency
which can affect the Test and Itchen. These sources
Discharges include Lasham, near Alton and the MOD supplies at
Tidworth.
3.3.1. Abstractions The remaining 2% is split between agriculture,
industry and licensed private domestic supplies.
The annual total quantity of water licensed for
abstraction in the Test and Itchen catchments is

equivalent to 1810 million litres a day. This total

represents 73% licensed abstraction from surface
water and 27% from groundwater. Figure 4 shows
the total licenced volumes by purpose for the
catchments and Figure 5 the location of licensed

abstractions.

Nearly three-quarters of this is for non-consumptive

uses with fish farming accounting for 61% and
watercress cultivation nearly 12%. There are also
two augmentation schemes on the River Alre and

the Candover Stream which are used to augment

the flow of the downstream River Itchen in order to
mitigate the effects of a Waste Water Treatment Works Figure 6 – Consumptive licensed and actual
(WWTW) near Eastleigh. These are detailed later

abstraction in millions of litre per day
and account for 2% of the licensed total. All these

purposes are classified as non-consumptive because Figure 6 shows only consumptive abstraction with
water is returned to rivers close to where it is sourced. licensed quanties for public water supply and other
abstractions compared with the amount of water
Consumptive abstraction accounts for 25% of the actually abstracted.
total with 23% licensed for Public Water Supply
(PWS),5 the
Figure main
Total surface
licence waterbyabstractions
volumes being
purpose in this CAMS area
at Otterbourne and Gaters Mill on the River Itchen 3.3.2. Discharges
and Testwood on the River Test. Testwood can Many of the discharges in the catchments are from
Industrial Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW). Although
Agriculture 1% Other these are not directly connected to any abstraction
<1%
<1%
Watercress
licence, some of the water abstracted for public water
Augmentation 12% supply is returned to rivers via these discharges.
2%
Significant discharges direct to the River Itchen
Public Water
include treatment works at Eastleigh and Harestock.
Supply
23% Morestead treatment works discharges to the ground
within the vicinity of the River Itchen. Works at
Andover and Romsey discharge directly to the River
Test. A number of large works discharge treated
sewage effluent to the marine waters of the Solent
which effectively means water abstracted to supply
the Southampton area is not returned to the river and
Fishfarming
is therefore lost from the catchment. Other discharges
61% in the catchment include effluent discharges from a
number of watercress and fish farms across the area
Figure 4 – Total licence volumes by purpose in this and one discharge from a paper mill in the upper
CAMS area reaches of the River Test. Figure 7 shows the main
discharges.
Environment Agency TheTest and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy

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Groundwater Abstraction Surface Water Abstraction

Megalitres per day Megalitres per day
0 −2 0 −5
3 −9 6 −14 Rivers
10 −21 15 −30
Urban Areas
22 −36
31 −91
37 −72 CAMS Area © CEH Wallingford
92 −182 © Crown Copyright.
5 2.5 0 5 10 15 Environment Agency
100026380, 2006
Kilometers
Figure 5 – Licensed Abstractions
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Sewage Treatment Works/Outfalls Kilometers
Industrial/Trade/Other Discharge

© Crown Copyright.
Environment Agency
CAMS Area 100026380, 2006
Figure 7 – Consented Discharges of more than 10 cubic

metres per day
10 Environment Agency The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy
3.4. Agriculture and Industry 3.5. Augmentation Schemes
For over 100 years the watercress industry has been In the 1960s and 70s there appeared to be an
prominent in the two catchments and provides over inexorable rise in the amount of water abstracted and
400 jobs in the area. The cultivation of watercress subsequently discharged as waste water by water
depends on the reliable supply of large volumes of companies. In particular, flows in the middle and
groundwater and cress farms are often sited near areas lower stretches of the River Itchen were depleted
of naturally high spring flow. The water from springs by surface and groundwater abstraction. The river
and boreholes is returned to the catchment but there then received effluent from growing populations
are often local hydrological impacts. in the Eastleigh area and water quality was seen to
be critically vulnerable during drought summers.
Groundwater schemes were therefore developed to
pump water from boreholes located in the upper
catchments into the Candover and Alre tributaries,
thence augmenting flows along the whole of the
main river. The planned frequency of operation was
once in 10 years and in practice they were fully used
during the droughts of 1976 and 1989. Since then
abstraction has fallen substantially and water quality
has improved due to investment by water companies
and the regulation of agricultural and industrial
discharges. These groundwater schemes remain on
standby for the most severe droughts and will also in
future be used under carefully controlled conditions
Watercress beds near Alresford for ecological support.
Many farms have their own supply from wells and 3.6. Conservation Designations
boreholes, supplying water for general agricultural
use, houses and in some cases for irrigation. The Within this CAMS area, there are a large number of
latter is fully consumptive as water is lost from the wetland sites which are strategically important to the
catchment by evaporation and transpiration, but biodiversity of Hampshire. These vary considerably
the agricultural sector as a whole uses relatively in scale and nature and include rivers, streams,
small quantities. Trickle irrigation is an emerging, floodplain grazing marshes, ditches, fens, reedbeds
consumptive use of water and will become licensable and marshes. These sites can be affected by a range
in 2007 under the provisions of the Water Act. of factors such as changes in land use, development,
abstraction, climate change, water level management
Aquaculture is also very evident in the two catchments and site management.
and is undertaken for rearing trout for the table
and for re-stocking purposes. Although there is
only limited employment provided by the farms,
a significant number of jobs are associated with
connected industries.
The paper mill at Overton, producing banknote
paper, is also a significant abstractor of water and
provides several hundred jobs in the area. Other
industries with their own direct abstractions include
water bottling and railway maintenance but these
represent a relatively small use of water. Many private
houses across the Hampshire Downs have their own
groundwater sources which are in some cases their
sole supply of water but waste water is invariably
discharged back to the catchment through treatment Water Vole
plants and septic tanks.
Environment Agency The Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy 11
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Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 4 2 0 4 8 12

Kilometers
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Ramsar Site Rivers © CEH Wallingford

© Crown Copyright.
Special Protection Area (SPA) Urban Areas All rights reserved.
Environment Agency
Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) CAMS Area 100026380, 2006
Figure 8 – Designated Conservation Sites
Many of the wetland habitats and some of the aquatic invertebrates, including the native freshwater
species dependent upon them are the subjects of crayfish.
UK Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP). The Agency has a
The Itchen valley contains areas of fen, swamp and
special responsibility to promote the conservation of
water meadows supporting vegetation with diverse
all wetland wildlife, both the common and the rare,
plant communities, some very species-rich. Habitats
and takes a lead role in co-ordinating the delivery of
adjacent to the river such as semi-natural riparian
Government BAP targets for many wetland habitats
vegetation, wet woodland and wet grassland, provide
and species (e.g. Water Vole). The rivers and wetlands
habitat for diverse and sometimes rare invertebrates,
of the Test and Itchen support an exceptional diversity
riverine bird species and also populations of Water
of wildlife and all of this is dependent on an adequate
Shrew, Otters and water voles.
supply of water.
The fish fauna of the rivers is typical of lowland chalk
The high quality of the wetland habitats in this
rivers in the range of species present, although the
CAMS area is reflected by the extensive conservation
community has been modified by introductions of
designations in the area shown in Figure 8. These
farm reared trout and the removal of other species.
designations range from those under European
Species such as brown trout, Salmon, bullhead, eel
legislation such as the River Itchen Special Area of
and brook lamprey are notable elements of the natural
Conservation (SAC) to nationally designated Sites of
fish fauna.
Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) like the River Test to
the large number of wetland habitats which enjoy Solent and Southampton Water SPA/Ramsar
protection from non-statutory designation as Sites of Site and Solent Maritime SAC
Importance for Nature Conservation. The lower reaches of the River Test are designated as
part of Solent Maritime SAC and also as part of Solent
River Itchen SAC
& Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA)
The whole of the River Itchen is designated under
and a Ramsar site under the UN Ramsar Convention.
European legislation as a Special Area of Conservation.
The River Itchen also flows into the Solent Maritime
The designation recognises the international
SAC.
importance of the chalk stream ecology of the Itchen
as a whole, and listed interest features are: the The lower reaches of the Test show well developed
macrophyte community, Salmon, Southern Damselfly, transitions from fen meadow through brackish flood
white clawed crayfish, brook lamprey, bullhead and plain grassland to saltmarsh and reed bed. This
otter. complete transition of freshwater flood plain habitats
to estuarine saltmarsh and mudflat is better developed
on the Test than on any other river in the Hampshire
and Isle of Wight Area. The ecological interests of this
site are dependent upon the balance between fresh
water input and the tidal influence, and the associated
brackish zone. With sea level rise the zonation from
freshwater to salt is shifting. Freshwater inputs are
important to maintaining the system. The area is also
internationally and nationally important for wetland
breeding birds and as a wader and duck feeding and
roosting ground.
In addition to these notable designations, the
ecological wealth of the two rivers and their
floodplains is exemplified by the numerous other
White Clawed Crayfish sites which are protected through statutory and non-
statuory designations. These include: Alresford Pond
Rivers Test and Itchen SSSIs – The River Itchen SSSI, Stockbridge Common Marsh and Fen SSSIs,
and the River Test are both described as ‘classic’ Chilbolton Common and Bransbury Common SSSIs,
chalk rivers, so called because of their exceptionally Baddesley Common SSSI (Emer Bog SAC); and Bere
species-rich aquatic flora and associated wildlife. The Mill Meadows SSSI.
community of aquatic plants known as macrophytes
A significant part of the CAMS area is also included
has an important influence on the rivers in terms of
in the North Wessex Downs Areas of Outstanding
water levels and flow. It is also the dominant in-stream
Natural Beauty (AONB) and a small part in the East
habitat, supporting a nationally important diversity of
Hampshire AONB .
3.7. Status of Ecology and Many tributary streams of the Test and Itchen, which
flow over Tertiary deposits, often have unacceptable
Fisheries long-term biological quality. Investigations have
highlighted several urban and agricultural pollution
sources that are currently being addressed through
3.7.1. Ecology
the Agency’s Water Quality Improvement Plans.
The Environment Agency collects and analyses a
Where water quality problems are not an overriding
large amount of ecological information from aquatic
issue, ecological quality seems to be closely related
habitats within the Test and Itchen catchments. The
to river flows and in particular water velocity. For
data is used to monitor the conservation status of
example, during drought periods such as the early
several designated species or habitats and to provide
1990s or 1997 invertebrate abundance and diversity
an indication of problems in the river related to, for
and the status of the macrophyte community were
example, water quality or abstraction issues.
severely impacted.
Recent surveys have shown that the ecological
Information from macrophyte, macro-invertebrate
interest features are subject to a diverse range
and fisheries surveys has been used to guide the
of anthropogenic pressures including habitat
assessment of water resource availability in this CAMS.
degradation, isolation, eutrophication, abstraction,
pollution, disease (crayfish) and predation (water
vole). The Agency and other statutory bodies are 3.7.2. Fisheries
working to enhance the status of designated species
River Test
and habitats where they are currently compromised.
The Test is regarded by many as the world’s premier
dry fly trout fishery. The fishery provides substantial
income for riparian owners as well as employment for
river keepers and trout farmers.
For the last hundred years, the whole river has been
actively managed to promote the fishery, with weed
cutting and bank-side management designed to
provide habitat for fish and access for fisherman.
In addition to the brown and sea trout fishery, the
river supports a salmon fishery which is largely
confined to the lower reaches of the river downstream
of Romsey. Riparian interests also operate several
licensed eel traps. Winter grayling and coarse fishing
is becoming increasingly popular with more sections
Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus) on the River Dun providing opportunities for day ticket angling.
Nationally recognised procedures have been Fishery surveys and monitoring work have confirmed
developed to reliably assess the severity and cause of that salmonid recruitment takes place throughout the
environmental stress, based on macro-invertebrate entire system and the river has been classified as a
and macrophyte community variation. The Agency “Native Trout Water” under the Environment Agency’s
routinely monitors the invertebrate community at 70 Trout & Grayling Fisheries Strategy. Salmon stocks
locations in the Test and Itchen CAMS area and the have been in steady decline over the last forty years,
macrophyte community at a further 38 sites. with the river currently failing to meet its conservation
objectives which set out to establish spawning targets
Recent surveys show that the main channels of the required to keep the stock in favourable condition.
Test and Itchen and their chalk tributaries have few
problems with organic or toxic pollution. Although Key issues impacting the fishery and linked to
subtle impacts have been detected within close abstraction are the attractant flows required in the
proximity of large Waste Water Treatment Works, cress lower River Test to encourage salmon and sea trout
farms and fish farms, chalk stream sites are generally to migrate upstream. A comparatively recent change
characterised as having ‘very good’ ecological quality. in the distribution of salmon indicates a reluctance
In terms of nutrient enrichment there are certainly for summer run grilse to push up river until autumn
indications that the Test and Itchen are eutrophic. The flows trigger a spawning migration. The poor survival
impacts of point and diffuse sources of nutrients are of salmonid eggs deposited in spawning gravels
currently being assessed in the context of elevated is considered to be a major impact and is thought
nutrient levels within groundwaters. to be associated with diffuse pollution which may
be exacerbated by low flows. All surface water or water of “good quality” suitable for all fish species.
abstraction points have the capacity to entrain fry and The remaining 10% have objectives to achieve ”fair
migrating parr and smolts. All such abstraction points quality” water suitable for high-class coarse fish
require screening by law. populations. Compliance assessment, for the years
2000 to 2003, has shown a total (accumulative)
length of only 44.2km of river fails its objectives.
Potential impacts on water quality are similar within
both catchments. Treated sewage effluent discharged
from sewage treatment works for Andover and
Romsey influence the downstream water quality in
the Test, and Winchester and Eastleigh in the Itchen.
In Southampton, wastewater is discharged into
Southampton Water and the Solent. There are also a
number of treated sewage effluent discharges made
to ground in the upper to middle reaches of the two
rivers. These recycle water within catchments very
efficiently although groundwater needs constant
protection against contamination.
Wild Brown trout
Water quality within the smaller urban tributaries can
suffer from urban runoff, mis-connections of sewage
River Itchen effluent to surface water drains and illegal discharges.
Like its sister river the Test, the River Itchen has an These issues are normally localised and are unlikely to
international reputation as a world-class trout fishery cause water quality in the main rivers to deteriorate. In
and is classed as a native trout water. The upper the upper reaches of the Test and Itchen agriculture,
reaches above Easton in particular provide some of fish farming and watercress growing have the greatest
the best wild chalk stream trout fishing available in the potential to influence water quality. There is also a
country. Fish populations largely mirror those found trade effluent discharge from a paper mill located in
on the Test, with a viable salmon fishery established Overton that can influence downstream water quality.
on the lower Itchen below Bishopstoke.
The statutory quality standards however only monitor
Vigorous flows are required to pull salmon up above certain chemicals and it is clear that there are reaches
the public water supply abstraction points at Gaters of river suffering from other water quality problems
Mill and Otterbourne to key spawning and nursery not covered. Elevated phosphorus concentrations are
habitats found further upstream. In addition the normally associated with excessive weed and algae
Environment Agency is currently trying to open up growth that can significantly change river ecology.
the catchment above Winchester for salmon migration Phosphorous concentrations are considered elevated
to help stocks meet their conservation targets. in both the Test and Itchen, resulting in their being
Other key fishery issues linked to abstraction on the designated Sensitive Areas (Eutrophic) under the
Itchen revolve around maintaining water crowfoot Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD).
communities in favourable condition (SAC feature). Phosphorous removal has therefore been installed at
This is vital to produce optimum fishery habitat as well Andover WWTW and is planned at Romsey, Harestock
as providing key habitats for aquatic invertebrates, the and Eastleigh WWTWs. Further improvements to
adult stage of which are vital in sustaining viable dry reduce phosphorus concentrations within the rivers
fly fisheries. may be required under the Habitats Regulations and
Crow Act.
3.8. Water Quality In terms of groundwater quality, most of the land use
in the Test and Itchen atchments is agricultural, so
The Environment Agency maintains a network of the main sources of groundwater pollution are likely
55 sampling points to assess the quality of 302.8km relate to agricultural activities. The principal cause for
of classified rivers within this CAMS area. These are concern is diffuse nitrate pollution of groundwater.
used to monitor compliance with statutory standards
and discharge consents. This routine monitoring has The issue of rising nitrate concentrations is currently
shown that water quality in respect of these standards being addressed through the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
is of an excellent standard within the Test and Itchen designations and the Water Framework Directive,
catchments. Almost 90% of all river lengths have which is currently assessing the chemical status of all
objectives to achieve water of a “very good quality” groundwater bodies for a range of different pollutants.
3.9. Links with other plans and habitats and wild plants and animals. Recognising that
wildlife habitats are under pressure from increasing
initiatives demands made on the environment, the Directive
provides for the creation of a network of protected
There is a large number of other plans, strategies and areas across the European Union known as Natura
initiatives which are in some way linked to the Test 2000 sites. Hampshire has considerably more of these
& Itchen CAMS. Efforts have been made to ensure sites than many other counties in the UK and they
that links between these have been established. They include the whole of the River Itchen, the New Forest
include: and most of the Solent coastline.
As one of the competent authorities under the
3.9.1. National and Regional Water Resources Habitats Regulations, the Environment Agency must
Strategies assess the possible effects of its different permissions
These strategies consider the needs of public water on, or potentially affecting, Natura 2000 sites. This
supply, agriculture and industry, as well as the includes reviewing existing permissions such as
environment. Further information about the strategies abstraction licences and discharge consents, as well
can be found in Section 6. as assessing new ones. The Agency calls the review
of existing permissions the Review of Consents
process. This is a huge task for the Environment
3.9.2. River Itchen Sustainability Study (RISS) Agency as there are so many permissions operating
An investigation into the impacts of water company under our control. In the case of the River Itchen a
abstraction on the River Itchen SAC was included major investigation has been funded (the River Itchen
in the Agency’s National Environment Programme Sustainability Study), while in others the science on
2000–2005. It was driven by the review of consents which to base a review barely exists. Our target,
required by the Habitats Regulations and funding set by the Government, is to review all relevant
was allowed by Ofwat through water company Agency permissions by March 2010 although high
charges for water. Consultants were employed by priority sites such as the River Itchen Special Area of
the Environment Agency as project managers and the Conservation have to be reviewed by March 2006.
investigation (subsequently termed the River Itchen The resulting action plan will include statutory actions
Sustainability Study) was directed by a Steering Group to address abstraction related issues. The action
of competent authorities in the catchment consisting plan will also consider activities the Agency does not
of Environment Agency, Southern Water, Portsmouth regulate. As this work has not yet been completed, it
Water, Hampshire County Council, Defra, Eastleigh is not yet possible to state if abstraction licences will
Borough Council, Winchester City Council and English need to be changed or not. It is likely that the action
Nature. plan will contain a range of actions including activities
like river restoration and habitat improvements as
The Study was under-pinned by the Agency’s well as any necessary changes to abstraction licences
catchment-scale groundwater model and was and discharge consents. Unfortunately the timescale
groundbreaking in its catchment-wide scope and its of the work precludes its inclusion in the final Test
integration of techniques. During its three-year life, & Itchen CAMS document, although it will be
its range was widened due to two factors: firstly the implemented during the period of this CAMS.
Defra moderation that increased the number of SAC
interest features from two to seven, and secondly
the development of the Study to include a review of 3.9.4. Restoring Sustainable Abstraction
discharge consents in addition to abstraction licences. Programme
The Study completed its work in December 2003 and The Restoring Sustainable Abstraction (RSA)
its outputs are being used for the final stages of the Programme was set up in 1999 to identify and
Habitats Regulations review of consents. catalogue the number of rivers and wetland
sites in England and Wales suspected as being
3.9.3. Habitats Regulations – Review of over-abstracted. The sites are catalogued in the
Consents RSA Database and are prioritised according to
environmental and statutory requirements. The sorts
The European Directive on the Conservation of of sites that may be included in the database are
Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna – Habitats Directive sites, sites identified through CAMS,
known as the Habitats Directive – was adopted by SSSIs and some local undesignated sites. CAMS may
the European Commission in 1992. The Directive is identify sites that are potentially being adversely
implemented in the UK by the Conservation (Natural affected by abstraction for inclusion in the RSA
Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994 – commonly known programme for investigation as funding and resources
as the ‘Habitats Regulations’. It aims to protect allow.
biodiversity through the conservation of natural
Prior to the RSA programme, the Wallop Brook and 3.9.6. Water Level Management Plans (WLMP)
the Bourne Rivulet were identified as being at risk. WLMPs provide a means by which water level
Consultants were commissioned to investigate both requirements for a range of activities in SSSIs,
river catchments and make recommendations. The including agriculture, flood defence and conservation,
resulting work was prioritised with the Wallop Brook can be balanced and integrated. There are a number
having been successfully completed and some either in development or planned for the River Test
remediation investigations undertaken for the Bourne and River Itchen. Although the policies within this
Rivulet. CAMS will apply to the water requirements of WLMPs,
it is anticipated that most will be non-consumptive.
They would not therefore be subject to the Winter
3.9.5. Water Framework Directive Q50 policy, although other conditions may be
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) represents the applied.
most substantial piece of water legislation from the
European Commission to date. It requires all inland 3.9.7. Catchment Flood Management Plans
and coastal waters to reach at least “good ecological (CFMP)
and good chemical status” by 2015 unless there are
grounds for derogation. There is also a general “no CFMPs are policies for the long term management of
deterioration” provision to prevent deterioration in flood risk that take into account the likely impacts of
status. The Environment Agency has been named changes in climate, land-use and land management
as the Competent Authority for England and Wales and deliver benefits that contribute towards
and will be responsible for delivering the Directive’s sustainable development. There is a CFMP planned for
requirements. the Test and Itchen catchments.
An important feature of the Directive is the

integration of water quality and water quantity issues 3.9.8. Salmon Action Plans
for both surface and groundwater. This explicit linking These establish programmes of actions, based
of rivers and aquifers reinforces the holistic approach on a partnership of various groups, organisations
that will be taken to water management. and individuals, working towards conserving and
The Directive requires statutory strategic management improving salmon stocks safeguarding them for future
plans known as River Basin Management Plans generations. There are plans in force for both the River
(RBMP’s) to be produced for each of the nine River Test and the River Itchen and this CAMS will feed into
Basin Districts in England and Wales. RBMPs will be them.
developed in consultation with the local community
and will set out how the objectives for all water bodies 3.9.9. Pollution Reduction Programmes
within each river basin are to be achieved.
These describe the state of water quality in respect
The integrated approach to catchment management of the Freshwater Fish Directive and what actions are
envisaged for the WFD will consider a much wider being taken to maintain and improve water quality. A
spectrum of pressures and at a smaller scale than programme is being developed in respect of the Test
considered in CAMS. However, parts of the CAMS and Itchen catchments.
process will be used to help deliver the WFD. For
example, the lessons learned from CAMS consultation
will be important in helping the Environment Agency 3.9.10. Landcare Project
engage with the public in the WFD process. The Test and Itchen Landcare project is a partnership
The first cycle of CAMS will be completed by 2008 formed as a response to a gradual degradation
and will feed into the first set of draft RBMPs to be of the rivers Test and Itchen and their tributaries.
published in the same year. A formal consultation on Diffuse pollution has been identified as a significant
how the Environment Agency will approach River contributor to problems now faced throughout
Basin Planning is underway at the time of publication these river catchments caused through certain
of this document. It will look at how our existing land management and highway activities. The
water planning tools, including CAMS, can best be project aims to encourage and support sustainable
used to help deliver integrated river basin planning. land management practices that help tackle issues
concerning resource protection, flooding and ecology
The latest information about the WFD can be found through farm visits, demonstration and training events
at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd. for farmers and advisors, and research to identify
problematic areas.
3.9.11. Itchen Navigation Project 3.10. Stakeholder Concerns
The Itchen Navigation was developed over a long
period for water mills, water meadows and barge The Test & Itchen CAMS Stakeholder Group members
traffic between Southampton and Winchester. It is have played a valuable role in providing local
an integral part of the river system with an important information and views from their particular broad
industrial and agricultural heritage and its towpath interests. They have been briefed at all key stages
provides ready access for walkers. A bid for major during the development of the CAMS process raising
funding to reverse a century of neglect has been and debating many important issues relating to the
submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund. catchments.
Some of the main issues discussed were:
3.9.12. Hampshire Water Partnership
• It was strongly felt that the strategy should directly
This partnership includes major stakeholders involved address water quality in addition to quantity rather
in water management at a community level in than being restricted to flow effects on dilution
Hampshire across the private, public and voluntary levels
sectors. It has established a framework for addressing
issues facing Hampshire rivers, wetlands and aquifers • Concern about the effect on the catchments of
and organises the annual Hampshire Water Festival. current development and that proposed by the
South East Plan
3.9.13. South East Plan • The level of environmental protection that should
be afforded to the catchments reflecting their
The South East Plan is the new regional spatial
ecological importance relative to other areas of the
strategy for the South East region and replaces current
country
regional planning guidance. It is a major piece of
work being carried out by SEERA and aims to set out • Andover WWTW discharging into the main River
a vision for the region through to 2026, focusing Test rather than the River Anton depriving it of flow
on improvements that we need to make to ensure
the region remains economically successful and an • Concern that the action plan delivered by the
attractive place to live. It will address important Habitats Regulations Review of Consents could not
issues such as housing, transport, economy and be incorporated into this CAMS due to a mismatch
the environment, including the sustainable use of of timescales
water resources. The South East is England’s largest • Whether the ‘better science’ of the River Itchen
region, with a population of 8.1 million, and its Sustainability Study should be used and transposed
economic performance is of consequence for the to the River Test for this CAMS
whole country. Hampshire is the third largest shire
county, with a growing population of more than • The current condition of the macrophyte
1.7 million people, and the Partnership for Urban community and whether it was suffering from lack
South Hampshire (PUSH) proposes a strategy of of flow
managed growth, based on the regeneration of
• Effect of low flow on migrating salmon
Portsmouth, Southampton and other urban areas
within the sub-region. The South East Plan contains • The complex river system of the Lower Test and
policies on water resources, water quality and water the potential impact of the Testwood public water
company infrastructure for which the CAMS will be supply abstraction
a building-block. However, these policies will have to
be translated into action on the ground to ensure that • The need for the Environment Agency to ensure
development is sustainable. Either the new Code for that strategies and projects affecting the two
Sustainable Homes will be adopted on a voluntary but catchments are linked
universal basis across the region or regulations will • Conflicting views on the state of river management
have to be rewritten. were expressed
• Concern that a winter Q50 condition might affect
3.9.14. Drought Plans
future WLMPs and agri-environment schemes
Both the Environment Agency and water companies established to improve floodplain for breeding
have drought plans in place to maintain public water waders and wetland flora
supplies and deal with impacts on the environment.
These are implemented at times of exceptional
shortages of rainfall.
4
Resource assessment and resource

availability status
4.1. Introduction indicates the relative balance between committed
and available resources, showing whether licences
To manage water resources effectively, we need are likely to be available and highlighting areas
to understand how much water is available and where abstraction needs to be reduced. This does
where it is located. This is achieved by undertaking a not replace the need for the licence determination
resource assessment, covering both surface water and process, which is applied to licence applications.
groundwater. More information on the determination process is
given in Annexe Two of Managing Water Abstraction.
Water is used for a number of different purposes,
the principal categories being general agriculture, There are four categories of resource availability status,
spray irrigation, industrial use, power generation and as shown in Table 2.
water supply. For each different use, the amount So that water resources are assessed consistently in
of water that is returned to the water environment similar situations, a framework for resource assessment
close to where the water was abstracted may vary and management, to be applied in all CAMS areas,
considerably. Where this loss is high, the Agency has been developed.
considers the abstraction to be consumptive. This may
restrict the availability of water for these purposes, This framework involves the development of an
unless a significant proportion of the water abstracted understanding of the water resources of the CAMS
is returned to the water source close to the point of area and assessment of the surface water and
abstraction. groundwater resource. These results are integrated to
define the final resource availability status of different
To easily provide information on the availability of units within the CAMS area.
water resources within a catchment that may be used
for consumptive purposes, a classification system has
been developed. This “resource availability status”
Table 2 I Resource availability status categories
Indicative resource Definition Colour coding for

availability status illustration on maps
Water available Water likely to be available at all flows including low flows. Blue
Restrictions may apply.
No water available No water available for further licensing at low flows although Yellow
water may be available at higher flows with appropriate
restrictions.
Over-licensed Current actual abstraction is resulting in no water available Orange

at low flows. If existing licences were used to their full
allocation they would have the potential to cause unacceptable
environmental impact at low flows.
Water may be available at high flows with appropriate

restrictions.
Over-abstracted Existing abstraction is causing unacceptable environmental Red

impact at low flows. Water may still be available at high flows
with appropriate restrictions.
Within and between catchments there are variations
in characteristics. In order to measure, manage and
4.3. Resource assessment of
regulate effectively, we need to break catchments river assessment points
down into smaller areas, recognising similarities in
characteristics. In the resource assessment for CAMS,
4.3.1. Environmental Weighting
in areas where groundwater resources are significant,
groundwater management units (GWMUs) are The surface water resource assessment requires
defined. For surface water, “assessment points” (APs) the definition of “river flow objectives”. These are
are located on the river network. These river APs and based on the sensitivity of the local ecology to flow
GWMUs are the focus of resource assessment and variations (i.e. their vulnerability to abstraction
abstraction licensing. impacts). It also takes account of other flow needs.
These objectives represent the minimum flow that we
are aiming to protect. This then affects the amount of
4.2. Application to the Test and water that is available for abstraction.
Itchen CAMS These river flow objectives are developed by first
Figure 9 shows the GWMUs and river APs that have giving “environmental weighting” scores to the
been defined for the Test & Itchen CAMS. Further reaches, which represent the sensitivity of the river
details on how these were defined are provided in the reach to abstraction. Reaches are banded according to
technical document for the Test & Itchen CAMS. their sensitivity to abstraction, either Very High (VH),
High (H), Medium (M), Low (L) or Very Low (VL). If
This CAMS has the benefit of two major studies which better specific scientific data is available then this can
have helped inform the resource assessment. be substituted for these more generic national scores.
4.2.1. River Itchen Sustainability Study

The River Itchen Sustainability Study started to unravel
the complex science of determining how much water
can be abstracted from the River Itchen without
causing environmental damage. It was anticipated
that this work would be completed and used in this
CAMS. Although considerable progress was made in
addressing the issue, it was not possible to definitively
quantify the impact. Further work is now being
carried out by the Agency as part of the Habitats
Regulations Review of Consents process and this work
will guide any changes to abstraction licences which
are deemed to be required. Best science from the Wallop Brook AP at Bossington
sustainability study has been used where appropriate
to inform the resource assessment. Table 3 show the river flow objectives for each
assessment point in the Test & Itchen CAMS area.
4.2.2. Test and Itchen Groundwater Model These river flow objectives are then compared with a
scenario flow which assumes that all licences are being
The Agency has developed a regional groundwater fully utilised (i.e. the full licensed quantity is being
model covering all of the Test and Itchen CAMS abstracted). This comparison reveals either a surplus,
area. The study has helped the Agency to a better balance or deficit. The size of the surplus/deficit
understanding of how groundwater and rivers interact corresponds to a resource availability status for the
and has also provided assessments of the impact unit.
of abstractions on river flow. Although the model
provides information for the catchment resource The environmental weighting scores for this CAMS
assessments it was not designed to look at local have been based on a rigorous analysis of the available
abstraction issues. Where further investigation is data combined with expert opinion within a national
identified, the groundwater model will be a useful methodology. As a result of this work, the rivers in
starting point for more detailed work. this CAMS are considered to have high sensitivity to
abstraction.
420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000
160000
160000
150000
150000
AP8
140000
140000
AP11
AP9
AP10
AP3
AP12 AP4
130000
130000
AP2
AP13 AP1
AP14
AP5
120000
120000
AP18
AP20
AP19
AP17
AP15
AP6
AP7
110000
110000
AP16
420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000
River Assessment Points

Groundwater Management Units Dever AP1 Cheriton AP11 Anton
Dun & Blackwater AP2 Alre AP12 Wallop Brook
AP3 Candover AP13 Dun
Alre Lower Itchen
AP4 Easton AP14 Timsbury
Anton Middle Itchen AP5 Allbrook and Highbridge AP15 Blackwater Total
Bourne Rivulet Middle Test AP6 Riverside Park AP16 Test Total
AP7 Itchen Total AP17 Testwood GS
Candover Upper Test
AP8 Bourne AP18 Ower
Cheriton Wallop Brook AP19 Conagar Bridge
AP9 Dever
AP10 Chilbolton AP20 Monks Brook

4 2 0 4 8 12 © Crown Copyright.
CAMS Area Kilometers All rights reserved.
Environment Agency
100026380, 2006
Figure 9 – Groundwater Management Units and River

assessment points
Table 3 I River flow objectives
Assessment Assessment Point Name Main Environmental

Point Catchment Weighting Score
1 Cheriton Stream at Sewards Bridge Itchen High
2 River Alre at Drove Lane Itchen High
3 Candover Stream at Borough Bridge Itchen High
4 River Itchen at Easton Itchen High
5 River Itchen at Allbrook & Highbridge Itchen Better science of RISS used
6 River Itchen at Riverside Park Itchen Better science of RISS used
7 River Itchen Total Itchen Better science of RISS used
8 Bourne Rivulet at Bourne Test High
9 River Dever at Bransbury Test High
10 River Test at Chilbolton Test High
11 River Anton at Fullerton Test High
12 Wallop Brook at Bossington Test High
13 River Dun at Dunbridge Test High
14 River Test at Timsbury Bridge Test High
15 River Blackwater Total Test High
16 River Test Total Test High
17 Great Test at Testwood Test High
18 River Blackwater at Ower Test High
19 Little Test at Conagar Bridge Test High
20 Monks Brook Itchen High
The Agency is keen to use the best science available variations in flow throughout the year. A classification
so, although there is no final agreed assessment of of “over-licensed” or “over-abstracted” generally
abstraction impact on the Itchen, the Sustainability indicates that no new licences will be granted.
Study represents the best science available at the However, this applies only at times of low flow. During
moment. The Agency has therefore based the periods when flows are higher, there may be some
environmental weighting for the Lower Itchen on water available for abstraction. The classification is
data from the conclusions of the Sustainability Study therefore really a classification of resource availability
giving those reaches a lower sensitivity to abstraction. at low flow.
Details of this approach are included in the Technical
Abstraction licences are sometimes managed in order
Document. However, given the current uncertainties
to ensure this flow variability is maintained by the use
and the ongoing work, it is not appropriate at this
of “hands-off flow” conditions. These are conditions
time to transfer this approach to the Upper Itchen
on licences that require abstraction to cease (or
or to the River Test. It is anticipated that the current
reduce) when the flow in the river falls below a
work will inform the next round of CAMS and may
specified level. Therefore, when river flows are above
also be used to consider abstraction impacts on the
this hands-off flow, abstraction can take place but
River Test as well as the River Itchen.
when flows are below this, no abstraction (or reduced
abstraction) can occur. Low flows will occur more
4.4. Surface Water Resource frequently during the summer months.
Availability In order to maximise abstraction while maintaining

the variability of flow (required for many aquatic
The surface water resource availability classification species), a tiered system of hands-off flows is applied.
gives an indication of whether new licences will be Licences are generally granted with the lowest hands-
available from the river or whether some recovery of off flow possible on a first-come-first-served basis. As
resources is required. However, there are significant more licences are granted, the hands-off flow must be
increased to maintain sustainable flows in the river.
For potential applicants for new abstraction licences, it
is therefore important to know not only the likelihood
4.6. Integration of the surface
of obtaining a licence, but also the reliability of a water and groundwater
licence if granted with a hands-off flow condition.
Within the CAMS resource assessment, reliability is
resource assessments
expressed as a percentage. This percentage indicates The preliminary results for a river reach or a
the minimum amount of time over the long term that groundwater management unit may be overridden
the scenario flow exceeds the river flow objective, in order to protect a downstream river reach or
therefore allowing abstraction to take place. underlying groundwater management unit. Here the
The resource assessments for both surface water downstream reach or unit is known as the critical
and groundwater use a scenario which assumes that reach.
all licences are being fully utilised; that is, the full Where the preliminary low flow resource availability
authorised volume is being abstracted. However, status of the river reach or groundwater management
many licences are not used fully and therefore in unit is “water available”, it is overridden to “no
reality the resource availability can be different. If the water available” in order to indicate that additional
result of a resource assessment is “Over-licensed”, abstraction will only be allowed where it does not
data of actual abstraction is then used to establish make the position within the critical reach any worse.
whether the status is “Over-abstracted” (actual
Where the river reach or groundwater management
flows are lower than river flow objectives). “Over-
unit is “no water available”, “over-licensed” or “over
abstracted” represents abstraction that is already
abstracted” it maintains its own status. The strategy
unsustainable whereas “Over-licensed” represents the
that is developed still takes into account the impact
potential for damage should the full licensed amount
that any additional abstraction from these river
be abstracted.
reaches or groundwater management units has on the
The Agency’s groundwater model was used to provide critical reach.
assessments of benchmark natural flows and also river
Table 4 shows the final resource availability status of
flows affected by abstraction.
groundwater management units and river reaches
in the Test and Itchen CAMS area. This is the status
following downstream considerations and integration
of the groundwater and surface water assessment
4.5. Resource assessment of results. The results of the separate surface water and
groundwater management units groundwater assessments are available in the Test and
Itchen CAMS Technical Document.
For the groundwater resource assessment, various
tests are applied to each unit to determine the Both the River Itchen and River Test have large
resource availability status. These tests include abstractions in their lower reaches which cause the
examining the balance between recharge to the unit lower assessment points of the River Itchen to be
and abstraction from it, and the impact of abstraction defined as Over Abstracted and for the River Test as
on summer outflows from the unit. Over Licensed. These are defined as critical reaches
which override the upstream units individually
Groundwater is of fundamental importance for this assessed as Water Available or No Water Available.
CAMS area. Use of the Test and Itchen groundwater
model ensures that the impact of groundwater
processes is accounted for in the surface water
assessment but groundwater is considered again
within five tests. The groundwater model has been
used to derive groundwater catchment areas and also
recharge estimates.
The groundwater units in this CAMS do not neatly
match the CAMS boundary or the internal surface
water catchments. The groundwater catchment of
the Itchen extends into the Agency’s Thames Region
around Alton and the groundwater catchment of
the River Test extends into the Agency’s South West
Region around Tidworth. This has been accounted
for by using the groundwater model to consider these
areas within the resource assessment.
Table 4 I Final Resource Availability Status Results
Assessment Assessment Point and GWMU Name Main Final Water Resource
Point and Catchment Assessment
GWMU
1 Cheriton Stream at Sewards Bridge Itchen No Water Available
2 River Alre at Drove Lane Itchen No Water Available
3 Candover Stream at Borough Bridge Itchen No Water Available
4 River Itchen at Easton Itchen No Water Available
5 River Itchen at Allbrook & Highbridge Itchen Over Abstracted
6 River Itchen at Riverside Park Itchen Over Abstracted
7 River Itchen Total Itchen Over Abstracted
8 Bourne Rivulet at Hurstbourne Priors Test No Water Available
9 River Dever at Bransbury Test No Water Available
10 River Test at Chilbolton Test No Water Available
11 River Anton at Fullerton Test Over Licensed
12 Wallop Brook at Bossington Test No Water Available
13 River Dun at Dunbridge Test No Water Available
14 River Test at Timsbury Bridge Test No Water Available
15 River Blackwater Total Test No Water Available
16 River Test Total Test Over Licensed
17 Great Test at Testwood Test Over Licensed
18 River Blackwater at Ower Test No Water Available
19 Little Test at Conagar Bridge Test No Water Available
20 Monks Brook at Stoneham Lane Itchen No Water Available
4.7. Definition of Water

Resource Management Units
The resource availability results for the river reach
and groundwater management unit assessments are
integrated to produce Water Resource Management
Units.
The Test and Itchen CAMS has 9 Water Resource
Management Units (WRMUs). These units have been
defined to enable the management of water resources
and have been derived from the river reaches and
associated Assessment Points and Groundwater
Management Units used to assess water resource
availability. Figure 10 and Table 5 show the Resource
Availability Status for each of the WRMUs.
The Candover Stream and Bourne Rivulet are both
defined as No Water Available but are not merged
with other units of the same status as their assessment
points are influenced by significant discharges in the
lower reaches of both rivers.
420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000
160000
160000
WRMU 5
150000
150000
WRMU 6
WRMU 4
WRMU 2
140000
140000
WRMU 9 WRMU 3 WRMU 1
130000
130000
WRMU 7
120000
120000
WRMU 8
110000
110000
420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000
Rivers Water Resource Management Units

Groundwater Units
WRMU1 Upper Itchen
Water Available Water Available WRMU 2 Candover
WRMU 3 Lower Itchen
No Water available No Water available WRMU 4 Upper Test
WRMU 5 Bourne
Over Licenced Over Licenced WRMU 6 Anton
WRMU 7 Blackwater
Over Abstracted Over Abstracted WRMU 8 Lower Test
WRMU 9 Mid Test
Hatched area within

© CEH Wallingford
Thames Region
4 2 0 4 8 12 © Crown Copyright.
Kilometers All rights reserved.
Hatched area within
Environment Agency
South West Region
100026380, 2006
Figure 10 – Water Resource Management Units
Table 5 I Water Resource Management Units
WRMU WRMU Description Main Water Resource

Number Catchment Assessment
1 Upper Itchen to Easton Itchen No Water Available
2 Candover Stream to Borough Bridge Itchen No Water Available
3 Lower Itchen from Easton to Woodmill Itchen Over Abstracted
4 Upper Test to Chilbolton Test No Water Available
5 Bourne Rivulet to Bourne Test No Water Available
6 River Anton to Fullerton Test Over Licensed
7 River Blackwater to Testwood Test No Water Available
8 Lower Test from Timsbury to Redbridge Test Over Licensed
9 Middle Test from Chilbolton to Timsbury Test No Water Available
4.8. Areas which are not in 4.9. Further data needed before
Water Resource Management the next CAMS
Units This CAMS has had the benefit of the River Itchen
Sustainability Study and a groundwater model for the
The majority of the CAMS area is within a Water
Test and Itchen. These tools have been important in
Resource Management Unit. The only notable
the completion of this resource assessment. There is
exception is the Monks Brook in Eastleigh. This is a
still a need for further work to improve the resource
small urban stream which has no abstractions as it
assessment before the next round of CAMS. In
is not a reliable resource. The river has a very small
particular, further work is needed to understand the
baseflow and responds rapidly to rainfall. It is highly
impact of abstraction on the ecology of particular
engineered through the urban area and it was not
reaches of both rivers. The detailed work on the
considered necessary to include it within a Water
River Itchen should be considered in the context of
Resource Management Unit. However, the water
transferring the conclusions to the River Test, a sister
resources of the Monks Brook have been included in
river in respects of geology, topography and climate
the overall water resource assessment for the River
but with differences in scale and management.
Itchen.

Other streams that the CAMS does not address are
the Tanners Brook flowing through Millbrook in
Southampton and other small coastal, urban streams.
There are no abstractions from these streams.
5
Proposed licensing strategy

5.1. Sustainability appraisal 5.3.1. Precautionary Principle
Where there has been uncertainty, the Agency has
refused licences, or issued them with time limits
5.1.1. Introduction
or restrictive conditions on the grounds of the
A sustainability appraisal process has been developed ‘precautionary principle’. Precaution is now an
to enable the Agency to take account of costs and established principle of environmental governance
benefits in the production of CAMS. The process and, in the face of risks to health or the environment,
considers the government’s four objectives of it involves acting to avoid serious or irreversible
sustainable development, relating to environment, potential harm despite lack of scientific certainty.
economics, society and resource use. It uses a largely
qualitative, proforma-based approach to consider
5.3.2. Presumption against Consumptive
what the resource availability status for each water
Groundwater Abstractions
resource management unit should or could be after
each six-year cycle (Tier 1). This is undertaken for all There has been a policy of ‘presumption against’
units in all CAMS areas. It also allows the appraisal of further consumptive abstraction from most of the
options for recovering water resources, by taking into chalk aquifers of the Region since the mid-1980s,
account the implications of different options on all following a history of rising demand for water
aspects of sustainability (Tier 2). This is undertaken to and serious concerns over environmental impacts
determine the most sustainable options for the future expressed by stakeholder committees. This policy
management of the catchment including, where was subsequently adopted by the Regional Water
necessary options for recovery of resources. More Resources Strategy.
information on the sustainability appraisal process
is provided in Managing Water Abstraction: The 5.3.3. Presumption against Consumptive
Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy Process. summer surfacewater Abstractions
For most surface water catchments there is also a
5.2. National Policies ‘presumption against’ further summer consumptive
abstraction. Where possible, potential abstractors are
There are existing National Policies which apply to
encouraged to apply to take water in the winter and
the Test and Itchen CAMS area. They include Habitats
provide reservoir storage from which they can use
Regulations review of consents. Time-limiting of
water in the summer.
licences and the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction
Programme (RSA), all of which are detailed elsewhere
in this document. 5.3.4. Revocation of unused abstraction
licenses
5.3. Southern Region Policies A key aspect of the strategy is the need to recover
unused licenses or portions of licences to correct past
The regional strategy provides a framework for CAMS over-licensing. This will help secure protection of the
preparation and licensing strategy. CAMS outcomes water environment, simplify the resources balance and
will influence future national and regional strategies. clarify the potential for new licences across all sectors
Water Resources in the South East have been under of abstraction. This policy has already been pursued
pressure for some time. To manage water resources successfully by the Agency in this area for a number of
effectively, policies have been developed and have years.
been published in the Southern Region Water
Resources Strategy. These principles and policies were
established through extensive consultation and are
outlined below.
5.4. Catchment overview of which has been over-ridden to “Over-Licensed”. The
Agency proposes to continue with a presumption
proposed licensing strategy against issuing further consumptive abstraction
licences from the unconfined chalk.
This document outlines the licensing strategy for the
Test and Itchen CAMS area. The strategy provides an There is no policy for abstraction from other
indication of whether licences are likely to be available minor aquifers including the confined chalk. Local
and the conditions that should be expected. Where investigation will be required to determine potential
problems or potential problems have been identified, environmental impacts and impacts on other
it sets out actions to address them. However, anyone abstractors and applications will be determined on
is entitled to apply for a licence, even if the strategy their own merits.
indicates that there may not be water available.
When considering issue and renewal of licences, the 5.4.3. Surface Water Licences
licence holder must demonstrate: Water resource availability calculated for most rivers
in the CAMS area generally shows that there is no
water available or that the rivers are over licensed or
1. The need for water
over abstracted. In accordance with regional policy,
2. The efficient use of water for many years there has been a presumption against
3. T
here is no environmental damage caused by the issuing consumptive abstraction licences for summer
abstraction surface water.
Winter storage licences have been and may continue
to be granted for direct river abstraction, subject to
This strategy only relates to licences which have a determination, between November 1st and March
net impact on the environment. These are likely 31st with appropriate flow and level conditions. This
to be licences where the water is used and not position is supported by the recent assessment of
returned to the catchment. Non-consumptive water resource availability. In recent years, the Agency
licences will generally be considered in all water has issued winter storage licences for abstraction
resource management units subject to environmental when flows between November 1st and March 31st
assessment and the three tests above. exceed the median winter flow. This is the flow that
The Agency operates a rigorous enforcement policy is exceeded on average for 50% of the time and is
and inspections are regularly carried out to ensure known as the Q50. High winter flows are recognised
licence holders are meeting the conditions of their as being important to the ecology of streams
licences. and rivers and are needed to clean fish spawning
gravels and to promote migration of fish. Using the
precautionary principle and recognising that the
5.4.1. Water Efficiency
rivers in the CAMS are already heavily committed to
The Agency will require all present and future abstraction, the median winter flow was selected as an
abstractors of water to employ water efficient appropriate “hands off” flow condition.
methods to reduce the demand for water. These are
Many existing surface water abstractions issued
largely a matter of common sense, involving thinking
before 1989 do not have conditions restricting their
about the ways water is used and then targeting
use in periods of low flow. Spray irrigation, if not
for reduction. These methods are summarised in
from a reservoir filled in winter, can represent a very
the Regional Strategy and details are given on the
significant demand on rivers when they are low in
Agency’s demand management website – www.
summer. Section 57 of the Water Resources Act gives
environmentagency.gov.uk/savewater.
the Agency powers to impose a temporary restriction
on spray irrigators if there has been an exceptional
5.4.2. Groundwater Licences shortage of rain.
The chalk aquifer supplies licensed abstractions and
also supports baseflow to the Rivers Test and Itchen 5.4.4. Impoundments
and most of their tributaries. After surface water
Applications for new impoundments are dealt with on
considerations all but two groundwater units have
a case by case basis. In all cases, licence applications
been over-ridden to “No Water Available”. The
will be considered under the requirements of the
exception are the Allbrook and Highbridge chalk
Water Resources Act 1991 as amended by the
which is “Over-Abstracted” and the Anton chalk
Water Act 2003. Local issues of derogation and
environmental impact will always be assessed and 5.4.7. Summary of Licensing Policy
may override the status of the catchment defined in
• The Agency will retain the existing policy of a
this CAMS.
presumption against issuing consumptive licences
from the chalk.
5.4.5. Time Limits
• There will be a presumption against issuing licences
Licences applied for or varied after 1st October for summer consumptive abstraction from surface
2001 are time limited under provisions of the Water water.
Act 2003. For the Test and Itchen CAMS area the
• The Agency will consider applications for winter
common end date for the for renewals of time-limited
storage abstractions from surface water between
licences is at present 31 March 2013. The normal
November and March. A “hands-off flow” of a
renewal period will be 12 years although in certain
winter Q50 is likely to be applied for consumptive
circumstances the Agency may consider issuing
use.
licences for longer time periods. Similarly if there is
local uncertainty or need for further investigation • Non-consumptive licences will generally be
a shorter time limit may be appropriate. There is a considered subject to environmental assessment
presumption of renewal of licences subject to the and meeting the three tests of: need for water,
previously mentioned three tests although licence making efficient use of water and not causing any
conditions may be reviewed. environmental damage.
Licence holders will be notified that their licence • New licences will normally be time limited to expire
will expire and will be expected to re-apply for with a common end date of 31 March 2013, with a
their licence. The Agency will endeavour to give normal renewal period of 12 years.
six years notice if a licence is not to be renewed
• The impact of variations and applications for new
or renewed but on more restrictive terms which
licences on the River Itchen SAC will be considered
impact significantly on the use of that licence. Time
and an Appropriate Assessment may be required in
limits on non-damaging time-limited licences will
support of applications for new licences.
be changed to reflect the next reasonable common
end date for the catchment. It should be noted that • Where groundwater abstractions lie within the
most existing licences are not time limited so the groundwater catchment for the Test and Itchen but
above opportunities to change conditions are limited. within the Agency’s Thames or South West Regions,
Abstraction licences which could have an impact the licences will be issued by that region.
on Habitats Directive sites may have a time limit
related to the review of consents timetable. Further 5.4.8. Introduction to Management Units
details on time limits are available in Managing Water
Abstraction. Figure 10 shows the units for which water resource
availability has been calculated and a strategy has
been defined. A generic strategy has also been
5.4.6. Policy for River Itchen SAC
proposed for areas outside defined management units.
Work is currently being completed to consider the Full details of Assessment Point and Groundwater
need for any changes to abstraction licences to ensure Water Management Unit results within each WRMU
that the River Itchen SAC is in favourable condition are shown in the Technical Document. The following
by 2010. When complete, this work may lead to sections outline a strategy for each Water Resource
changes in the Agency’s policies for new abstraction Management Unit (WRMU).
licences in the Itchen catchment. These policies will be
published for consultation in the next Test and Itchen
CAMS review commencing in 2010.
In the interim, best science obtained from the Habitats
Directive work will be applied when considering all
licence applications, variations or renewals in the
Itchen catchment. Where licences have the potential
to have an adverse effect on the integrity of the River
Itchen, an Appropriate Assessment will be required to
consider the impact of the abstraction in some detail.
5.5. WRMU 1 Upper Itchen – 12
Figure
“No Water Available”
Augmentation
4% Watercress
Other
20%
<1%
Industrial
<1%
Agriculture
<1%
Public Water
Supply
1%
Fishfarming
© CEH Wallingford
74%
© Crown Copyright.
Environment Agency
100026380, 2006 Figure 12 – WRMU Licence Volume by Purpose
5.5.1. Description 5.5.2. Sustainability Appraisal Conclusions

This unit covers the main River Itchen from its source The status of the assessment points and groundwater
to the gauging station at Easton and includesFigure
the 14 units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Water
Cheriton Stream and the River Alre which are two Available”. They were over-ridden to “No Water
of the three chalk headwater streams of the Itchen. Available” in order to protect flows in the Lower
These headwaters, and in particular the winterbourne Itchen which are “Over-Abstracted”.
reaches, are an important element of the classic
The preferred option is to remain at “No Water
chalk stream ecology for which most of the River Augmentation
Available” to ensure that the downstream flows in the
Itchen has been designated SSSI, and parts of it, SAC 1%
Lower Itchen are maintained.
status too. The groundwater included in the unit
extends far beyond the surface water catchment and
extends nearly to Alton. The area is mostly arable and 5.5.3. Guidance on the assessment of new
Public Water
pasture with the town of Alresford in its midst which licences
Supply Watercress
is famous as the centre of the watercress industry.
36%There will be a presumption against issuing 42%licences
The only public water supply (PWS) affecting the
for summer consumptive abstraction from surface
unit’s groundwater is that at Lasham, near Alton in
water.
the Agency’s Thames Region. The main purposes
of abstraction are for the non-consumptive uses of The Agency will retain the existing policy of a
fishfarming and watercress cultivation with only a presumption against issuing consumptive licences
very small proportion for agricultural and industrial from the chalk.
use. The Alre Augmentation Scheme, which is one The Agency will consider applications for abstractions
of two such schemes used to augment flow in the from surfaceFishfarming
water between November and March
lower reaches of Itchen, discharges into the Alre using winter storage.
near Alresford. Statutory water quality objectives are 21% A “hands-off flow” of a winter
Q50 is likely to be applied.
generally meeting their “Very Good” targets although
there are some concerns over phosphorus levels. It is Non-consumptive licences will generally be considered
widely accepted that the upper Itchen is one of the subject to environmental assessment and meeting the
best examples of wild brown trout fisheries in the three tests of: need for water, making efficient use of
country. water and not causing any environmental damage.
New licences will normally be time limited to expire
with a common end date of 31 March 2013, with a
normal renewal period of 12 years.
The impact of new licences on the River Itchen SAC
will be considered and an Appropriate Assessment
may be required in support of applications for new
licences.
Where groundwater abstractions lie within the
groundwater catchment for this unit, but within the
Agency’s Thames Region, the licences will be issued
by that region. The area affected is shown as hatched
in the map above.
5.5.4. Renewals and management of existing

licences
There will be a presumption of renewal of licences
subject to the other renewal criteria and local
considerations. Licence conditions may be subject
to minor changes including the addition of water
efficiency conditions.
The Agency is currently carrying out a review of
existing abstraction licences which could have an
impact on the River Itchen SAC. Where licences
need to be affirmed, revoked or modified, the licence
holder will be informed.
No licence within the unit has a “hands-off flow”
condition.
Fishfarming
74%
5.6. WRMU 2 Candover – Figure 14

Augmentation
1%
Public Water
Supply Watercress
36% 42%
Fishfarming
21%
© CEH Wallingford
© Crown Copyright.
Figure 14 – WRMU Licence Volume by Purpose

Environment Agency
100026380, 2006

This unit covers the Candover Stream from its source The status of the assessment points and groundwater
in Chilton Candover to its confluence with the main units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Water
River Itchen near Alresford. The stream usually rises Available”. They were over-ridden to “No Water
around Northington in the summer months but Available” in order to protect flows in the Lower
can flow from Preston Candover in wet years. It is a Itchen which are “Over-Abstracted”.
classic chalk stream forming part of the River Itchen
SSSI, part of which is also an SAC. It is particularly
noteworthy for its population of white-clawed crayfish,
Lower Itchen are maintained.
this reach supporting the last remnant of what was
once a population extending throughout much of
the catchment. It is also famed for its wild brown 5.6.3. Guidance on the assessment of new
trout fisheries. Most land within the unit is arable licences
and pasture although agriculture accounts for only There will be a presumption against issuing licences
a very small proportion of abstraction. There is one for summer consumptive abstraction from surface
public water supply within the unit from groundwater water.
at Totford which accounts for nearly a quarter of
licensed abstraction. Although located outside of the The Agency will consider applications for abstractions
unit, the public water supply abstraction at Lasham from surface water between November and March
also has an impact. The main source of abstraction using winter storage. A “hands-off flow” of a winter
within the unit is the large watercress farm located Q50 is likely to be applied.
on the outskirts of Alresford, the discharge of which The Agency will retain the existing policy of a
contributes significantly to the flow of the lower presumption against issuing consumptive licences
stream. The Candover Augmentation Scheme is one from the chalk.
of two schemes used to augment flow in the lower
reaches of the Itchen and discharges just downstream Non-consumptive licences will generally be considered
of Northington. Statutory water quality objectives are subject to environmental assessment and meeting the
generally meeting their “Very Good” targets although three tests of: need for water, making efficient use of
there are some concerns over phosphorus levels. water and not causing any environmental damage.
with a common end date of 2013, with a normal
renewal period of 12 years.
licences.
Agency’s Thames Region, the licences will be issued
by that region. The area affected is shown as hatched
in the above map.

licences
There is only one licence within this unit that has a
flow condition. This has a condition of no abstraction
below 0.461 cumecs at a weir on the Candover
Stream.
Figure 16
5.7. WRMU 3 Lower Itchen –

“Over-Abstracted”
Other
Industrial <1%
<1% Watercress
Agriculture 3%
<1% Fishfarming
12%
Public Water
Supply
© CEH Wallingford
© Crown Copyright.
84%
Environment Agency
5.7.1. Description These reaches of the River Itchen represent one of

Figureonly
18 a handful of chalk stream salmon fisheries to
This unit covers the main River Itchen from Easton
be found in the country. Salmon stocks historically
to Riverside Park at Woodmill, Southampton. This
spawned successfully right through the river but are
chalk stream forms part of the River Itchen SSSI
currently restricted to comparatively short stretches in
which is also a SAC, designated in recognition for
the Bishopstoke and Winchester areas.
its nationally and internationally important flora and
fauna in the river and its floodplain and associated This Habitats Directive site is in unfavourable condition
ditches. The upper reaches, near to Winchester city and the River ItchenPublic
Sustainability
Water Study(RISS)
centre, include the Winnal Moors Wildlife Reserve. As considered connected Supply
issues in respect of landcare,
Augmentation
the Itchen flows over Tertiary deposits and becomes fisheries, water quality and
4% water 10%
level and water
Agriculture
more urban it picks up small tributaries. The river resource management.
1%
is extremely braided within this unit and shares the Fishfarming
valley with the Itchen Navigation, an historic trade 23%
Industrial
5.7.2. Sustainability Appraisal Conclusions
route which linked Winchester with Southampton. 15%
Although this reach has swathes of countryside it also The status of the assessment points and groundwater
flows through the large urban areas of Winchester, units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Over-
Other
Eastleigh and Southampton. Public Water Supply Abstracted”. The Habitats Regulations Review of <1%
dominates abstraction accounting for nearly 85% of Consents is due to report on 31 March 2006 with
the total licensed quantity. The two main sources are an action plan to restore sustainable abstraction
Otterbourne in the mid-reaches and Gaters Mill in the and return the SAC to favourable condition. It is
lower reaches. There are also a number of fish farms anticipated that by returning the SAC to favourable
and one watercress bed within the unit. The major condition, the status of the unit will change to “No
Watercress
discharge from the Waste Water Treatment Works Water Available”. The conclusion of the sustainability
46%
near Eastleigh requires the operation of the previously appraisal is to move towards “No Water Available” by
mentioned augmentation schemes for dilution implementing this action plan which is described in
purposes during severe droughts. Statutory water section 3.9.3 above.
quality objectives are generally meeting their “Good”
targets although soluble phosphorus standards have
been significantly exceeded within this unit.
5.7.3. Guidance on the assessment of new unit so the existing licensing policies will continue to
applications apply.
There will be a presumption against issuing licences
water.
The Agency will consider applications for abstractions
from surface water between November and March
using winter storage. A “hands-off flow” of a winter
The Agency will retain the existing policy of a
from the chalk.
Non-consumptive licences will generally be considered
subject to environmental assessment and meeting the
three tests of: need for water, making efficient use of
water and not causing any environmental damage.
licences.

licences
“hands-off flow” condition of no abstraction below
4.1cumecs at Easton gauging station.
5.7.5. Resource recovery strategy and other

changes to existing licences
The Action Plan defined as a result of the Habitats
Regulations Review of Consents will determine the
extent of any resource recovery required. When this
work is complete, appropriate licence changes may
be implemented which will reduce the impact of
abstraction on the River Itchen.
Until the Action Plan is agreed and implemented, it
would be premature to propose a new policy for this
Public Water
Supply
84%
Figure 18
5.8. WRMU 4 Upper Test –
Public Water
Supply Augmentation
4% 10%
Agriculture
1%
Fishfarming
23%
Industrial
15%
Other
<1%
Watercress
© CEH Wallingford
© Crown Copyright.
46%
Environment Agency

100026380, 2006

This unit covers the main River Test from its source The status of the assessment points and groundwater
at Ashe near Overton to the gauging station at units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Water
Chilbolton and includes the River Dever. The chalk Available”. They were over-ridden to “No Water
groundwater catchments associated with these are Available” in order to protect flows in the Lower Test
also included. The rivers within this unit are part of the which are “Over-Licensed”.
River Test SSSI, particularly important for its ecology
associated with headwaters and intermittent chalk
stream habitats. The area also includes Bransbury
Lower Test are maintained.
Common and Chilbolton Common SSSIs. The unit is
mostly rural arable and pasture land, the main urban
areas being Overton and Whitchurch. There are a 5.8.3. Guidance on the assessment of new
large number of former water meadow systems, some applications
of which are in the process of restoration. The majority There will be a presumption against issuing licences
of abstraction is for non-consumptive use with fish for summer consumptive abstraction from surface
farming and watercress cultivation accounting for water.
most licensed use. Portals paper mill at Overton is also
a major abstractor and employs a significant number The Agency will consider applications for abstractions
of people. The four public water supply sources within from surface water between November and March
the unit are licensed to abstract a relatively small using winter storage. A “hands-off flow” of a winter
amount of water usually discharged at local sewage Q50 is likely to be applied.
treatment works. Statutory water quality objectives The Agency will retain the existing policy of a
are largely achieving their “Very Good” and “Good” presumption against issuing consumptive licences
targets although phosphorus levels need careful from the chalk.
management. Fisheries located within this unit,
along with the Mid Test unit have the reputation of Non-consumptive licences will generally be considered
being some of the most valuable trout fisheries in the subject to environmental assessment and meeting the
country. three tests of: need for water, making efficient use of

licences
flow condition. This winter licence has a “hands-off
flow” condition of no abstraction below 5.3 cumecs at
Chilbolton gauging station.
5.9. WRMU 5 Bourne –
Figure 20
Agriculture Other Industrial

2% <1% <1%%
Public Water
Supply
17%
Watercress
© CEH Wallingford
© Crown Copyright.
80%
Environment Agency

This unit covers the Bourne Rivulet from its source The status of the assessment points and groundwater
near Upton to its confluence with the main River Test units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Water
at Hurstbourne Priors and has a long winterbourne Available”. They were over-ridden to “No Water
reach. It includes the groundwater catchment Figure 22 in order to protect flows in the Lower Test
Available”
associated with the river. This headwater, in particular which are “Over-Licensed” and to allow investigation
the winterbourne reach, is an important element of of the causes of observed ecological stress on some
the classic chalk stream ecology, for which the area reaches of the Bourne.
is renowned. This is a very rural unit and although it Industrial
does not form part of the River Test SSSI is part of the The preferred option is to remain at “No Water
Agriculture <1% Other
North Wessex AONB. The main village settlements Available” to ensure
<1% that the downstream flows in the
<1%
follow its valley and are Hurstbourne Tarrant, St Lower Test are maintained.
Public Water
Mary Bourne and Hurstbourne Priors. The majority of Watercress
Supply
23%
licensed abstraction within the unit is for watercress 5.9.3.
27% Guidance on the assessment of new
cultivation located at St Mary Bourne and are the applications
largest beds in Europe. The associated washing and
packing facility provides significant employment in
the area. Although pumping is thought to affect the
water.
intermittent reach upstream of the beds the discharge
significantly augments the flow downstream. There The Agency will consider applications for abstractions
is a single public water supply in the unit which from surface water between November and March
is located at Ibthorpe. Although compliance with using winter storage. A “hands-off flow” of a winter
statutory water quality objectives is generally “Very Q50 is likely to be applied.
Good” the level of phosphorus is elevated and some
Fishfarming
local issues are being investigated in respect of the
presumption against issuing consumptive
49% licences
ecology. Although comparatively lightly fished, the
from the chalk.
Bourne enjoys a reputation as a wild trout fishery
through various references in angling literature.

licences
There are no licences with flow conditions in this unit.
5.9.5. Local Actions

The Resource Assessment process found that low
flows were observed to be impacting the ecology
of some reaches of the Bourne. There is uncertainty
as to the level of impact the cress bed pumping
downstream of these reaches has on flows. The
issue has therefore been included on the Restoring
Sustainable Abstraction (RSA) programme. This will
involve an extension of the ecological monitoring,
already in place in respect of water quality issues, and
hydrogeological investigations.
Watercress
80%
5.10. WRMU 6 Anton –

“Over-Licensed” Figure 22
Industrial
Agriculture <1% Other
<1% <1%
Public Water
Watercress
Supply
23%
27%
© CEH Wallingford
Fishfarming
© Crown Copyright.
All rights reserved. 49%
Environment Agency
100026380, 2006
5.10.1. Description four public water supply sources within the unit which
are split between the two army garrison supplies near
This unit covers the River Anton from its source just
Tidworth, the disused source at Faberstown and the
north of Andover to its confluence with the main
major source at Andover supplying that town. A major
River Test just south of Chilbolton. It includes the
issue is the fact that Andover’s waste water treatment
Pillhill Brook and the associated chalk groundwater
works (WWTW) at Fullerton discharges into the River
catchment which extends into the Agency’s South
Test rather than augmenting the flows of the lower
West Region around Tidworth. The headwaters of
reaches of the River Anton. Statutory water quality
the River Anton flow through the urban area of
objectives are achieving their “Very Good” targets.
Andover before it is joined by the Pillhill Brook at
There is a public perception that flows in the Anton
Upper Clatford. The rest of the unit is largely rural.
are lower than historically experienced.
In the town the river flows through Anton Lakes and
Rooksbury Mill, both of which are local recreation
amenities. The Anton, although not designated, 5.10.2. Sustainability Appraisal Conclusions
is an important chalk stream habitat. However Local abstraction issues have been raised relating
many parts of the river channel, especially through to the impacts of Andover Public Water Supply on
Andover, are heavily engineered with encroachment the upper Anton and the fact that the Waste Water
of development upon the floodplain. Ecologically this Treatment Works (WWTW) at Fullerton discharges into
has led to impoverished plant and insect life although the Test rather than the Anton. Current abstraction
a small population of native crayfish persists. Locally levels could increase by around 55% before the unit is
in the upper reaches low flows could be contributing assessed as over abstracted.
to this. The Anton and Pillhill Brook both support
trout and grayling fisheries and additionally the Upper There are uncertainties as to what effect abstraction
Anton in Andover has several on-line stillwater coarse is having on the ecology of this unit. Until this is
fisheries. Occasional salmon also migrate up the further investigated it is proposed to remain at “Over-
Anton in autumn to spawn. Almost half of licensed Licensed”.
abstraction is for fish farming and fishing lakes with Whilst remaining at “Over-Licensed” the following
nearly a quarter for watercress cultivation, all of which options were considered:
are classed as non-consumptive use. The Pillhill Brook
has major cressbeds at Monxton Viaduct. There are
Option 1 – Maintain current licensing policy result of the concerns raised the Agency will add
the Anton to the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction
Simply maintaining the existing licensing policy will
(RSA) programme. The Agency will undertake more
not address concerns about local abstraction issues in
detailed investigations into the ecological effects of
this unit so is not selected as an option.
abstraction. The investigations are likely to include
Option 2 – Maintain current licensing policy, ratify consideration of the effect of the Andover Public
resource assessment results and if necessary investigate Water Supply abstraction and the Fullerton waste
actions to resolve. water treatment works discharge to the River Test.
Option 2 was selected with existing licensing policies
continuing to apply.
5.10.3. Guidance on the assessment of new

applications
water.
The Agency will consider applications for abstractions
from the chalk.
Agency’s South West Region, the licences will be
issued by that region. The area affected is shown as
hatched in the above map.

licences
No licence within the unit is subject to flow
conditions.
5.10.5. Resource recovery strategy and other

changes to existing licences
No resource recovery will be implemented at present
until further investigation has taken place. As a
5.11. WRMU 7 Blackwater –
Figure 24
Agriculture
20%
Industrial
14%
Other
66%
© CEH Wallingford
© Crown Copyright.
Environment Agency
5.11.1. Description water quality objectives in the area are targetted at

“Good” to “Fair” but are frequently not being met.
This unit covers the River Blackwater from its source
The Blackwater is primarily a low-key coarse fishery
in the Whiteparish area to its confluence with the
although it is important as a spawning and nursery
River Test at Testwood and includes its tributary, the
habitat for sea trout. The Broadlands fish farm carrier
Cadnam River. Their characteristics differ from thoseFigure 26
brings chalk stream water from the Test into the
of the chalk streams forming the remaining Test
Blackwater near Testwood, augmenting its flow.
catchment. They bear more affinity to New Forest
streams which have a much more flashy response to
rainfall. The Blackwater is of high nature conservation 5.11.2. Sustainability Appraisal
Industrial Conclusions
Agriculture
value, despite lacking nature conservation <1%
The status of the assessment points<1%and groundwater
designations. Its flood plain supports neutral and units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Water
base-poor flood plain grasslands, swamp and bog PublicAvailable”.
Water They were over-ridden to “No Water
habitats, many of which are also rich in species. It also Supply
Available” in order to protect flows in the Lower Test
contains good examples of riverine alder woodland 31%
which are “Over-Licensed”.
and transitions to valley-side ancient semi-natural
woodland. The preferred option is to remain at “No Water
Available” to ensure that the flows in the Lower Test
The unit is largely rural with the Cadnam River are maintained.
flowing through the northern extremities of the New
Forest and through woodland. Licensed abstraction
within the unit has a different profile to the rest of 5.11.3. Guidance on the assessment of new
the Test. Two thirds of abstraction is for the Paultons applications
Fishfarming
Adventure Park amenity lake whilst a number of golf There will be a presumption against issuing licences
68%
courses use spray irrigation, about half with winter for summer consumptive abstraction from surface
storage reservoirs. There is also a significant amount water.
of spray irrigation for agricultural and horticultural
use. In the Wellow area there is a significant amount Flows in the River Blackwater respond more quickly
of presently exempt trickle irrigation which will to rainfall than the nearby chalk streams and there
require licences in the next few years. There are no is better scope for capturing high flows for winter
public water supply sources within the unit. Statutory storage. Due to these different characteristics it is
considered reasonable to allow abstraction for winter
storage when flows are above the winter Q95 flow
of 0.2 cumecs as recorded at the gauging station at
Ower.

licences
Five licences within this unit have “hands-off flow”
conditions requiring abstraction to cease when flows
fall below the respective level. Four are linked to Ower
gauging station on the River Blackwater. Two licences
have a “hands-off flow” of the all year Q95 of 0.16
cumecs and the remaining two have a “hands-off
flow” of the winter Q95 of 0.2 cumecs. The remaining
licence has a “hands-off flow” at Broadlands gauging
station of 4.60 cumecs.
5.12. WRMU 8 Lower Test –
“Over-Licensed”
Figure 26
Industrial
Agriculture
<1%
<1%
Public Water
Supply
31%
Fishfarming
68%
© CEH Wallingford
© Crown Copyright.
Environment Agency
100026380, 2006
5.12.1. Description Hampshire. In addition, if reductions in abstraction

are required on the River Itchen, it is likely that
This unit covers the main River Test from Timsbury
abstraction will increase at Testwood.
north of Romsey to Redbridge at the mouth of
Southampton Water and includes the Tadburn Stream. The river system is complex in this reach and
The majority of the middle section flows through Figure 27 shows a simplified map of the main flow
pasture land and former water meadows whilst the distribution. The main river Test splits into two major
lower section flows through the outskirts of Totton channels known as the Great Test and Little Test which
and Southampton. This part of the Test differs in through arbitration have been subject to a flow ratio
character from the chalk upper reaches in that it flows of 2:1. In practice, the flow is rarely divided according
over Tertiary deposits. to this ratio. Broadlands Fish Farm carrier diverts flow
from the Test at Broadlands into the River Blackwater
The main river forms part of the River Test SSSI with
and Nursling Fish Farm also diverts water from the
the Lower Test Nature Reserve forming part of the
main river. As a result of these flow splits, a large
Solent and Southampton Water SPA/Ramsar and the
proportion of total flow bypasses the main public
Solent Maritime SAC. The lower reaches of the Test
water supply intake at Testwood. This results in low
show well developed transitions from fen meadow
flows immediately downstream of the intake before
through brackish flood plain grassland to saltmarsh
the River Blackwater and Nursling Fish Farm discharge
and reed bed which are dependent upon the balance
bring water back to the Great Test. The river enters
between fresh water input and the tidal influence.
the Lower Test Nature Reserve in two main channels.
Abstraction is approximately split between two thirds
Statutory water quality objectives in this unit are
licensed for non-consumptive fish farming and a
largely achieving their “Very Good” and “Good”
third for public water supply at Testwood. Water
targets.
is supplied from Testwood, through a cross-Solent
pipeline, to the Isle of Wight where it meets up to The Lower Test has a long history of being managed
a quarter of the Island’s requirements. Testwood as a salmon as well as trout fishery. The three major
supplies approximately 600,000 people in south fisheries are those at Nursling, Broadlands Estate and
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. There is also a Testwood. The Test is one of only a handful of chalk
pipeline supplying Fawley refinery. Testwood is an rivers supporting a viable salmon run and there are
important strategic resource and will be used to meet issues relating to upstream migration patterns.
future demands for water in large parts of South
AP14 Timsbury
Bridge GS
AP18 Ower GS
Cadnam River Broadlands Fish

Farm Carrier River Test
Test Back Carrier

Blackwater
Coleridge Split
Nursling Fish Farm
Great
Test Fish Farm
Carrier Little Test
Testwood Intake
AP17 Testwood
AP15 Blackwater Total River Test

Lower Test Nature
Reserve
AP16 Test Total
Figure 27 – Lower Test River System
5.12.2. Sustainability Appraisal Conclusions 5.12.4. Renewals and management of existing
licences
The resource assessment has concluded that the
Lower Test is over-licensed. This implies that There will be a presumption of renewal of licences
abstraction is not causing environmental damage subject to the other renewal criteria and local
at the moment but if abstraction increased within considerations. Licence conditions may be subject
existing licences, environmental damage may occur. to minor changes including the addition of water
Current abstraction levels could increase by around efficiency conditions.
15% before the unit is assessed as over abstracted.
The public water supply abstraction at Testwood has
The status of this unit also causes the status of
a “hands-off flow” condition of 1.05 cumecs. The
all upstream units to be over-ridden to no water
condition is related to the aggregate of flows at Ower
available.
gauging station, Testwood gauging station and the
It is apparent that the combination of large Nursling Fish Farm carrier.
abstractions and flow divisions results in a complex
water resources situation. Given the importance of 5.12.5. Resource recovery strategy and other
the public water supply abstraction in this unit, it is changes to existing licences
vital that the impact of abstractions is determined
before any actions are taken, so the Agency has To address the complex issues in the Lower Test, the
decided that the unit will remain over-licensed Agency needs to address the key questions stated
within the first CAMS cycle. This has minimal risk below:
for the environment as damage is not assessed to be • Is the river downstream of the Testwood Public
occurring under current levels of abstraction. Two Water Supply intake affected by current levels of
options were proposed to maintain the current status: abstraction and is it vulnerable to future increases in
Option 1 – Maintain current licensing policy licensed abstraction?
Simply maintaining the existing licensing policy will • How should the flows be distributed between the
not address concerns about local abstraction issues in various channels under both current conditions and
this unit so is not selected as an option. under fully licensed abstraction conditions to meet
the various demands of the lower Test system?
Option 2 – Maintain current licensing policy and
investigate the impacts of abstraction and flow In order to address these issues the Agency will
arrangements of the lower Test. need to carry out further work to look at abstraction
impacts in the Lower Test. It is hoped that the results
It is vital to consider in more detail the complex of the River Itchen Sustainability Study and the
situation in the Lower Test before abstraction additional review of consents can be used to inform
increases. work to assess abstraction impacts on the Lower Test.
Option 2 is proposed with existing licensing policies The Agency will also need to look in detail at the
continuing to apply. way flows are split in the Lower Test and consider if
these flow splits are operating in the most effective
5.12.3. Guidance on the assessment of new way. There should be sufficient water in each channel
applications to support a variety of demands such as in-stream
habitats, abstraction requirements, appropriate
dilution of discharges, the requirements of migratory
fish and the habitat needs of the Lower Test Nature
water.
reserve. In particular, consideration should be given
The Agency will consider applications for abstractions to:
• the flow split between the Great Test and Little Test,
Q50 is likely to be applied. • the large volume of water flowing down the
Broadlands Fish Farm carrier
subject to environmental assessment and meeting the • the large, partially unused licence at Nursling Fish
three tests of: need for water, making efficient use of Farm
• the “hands-off flow” conditions in the unit.
5.13. WRMU 9 Mid Test – Figure 29
Industrial
Agriculture
<1% Augmentation
<1%
Public Water <1%
Other
Supply
<1%
4%
Fishfarming
94%
© CEH Wallingford
© Crown Copyright.
Environment Agency
100026380, 2006

This unit covers the main River Test from Chilbolton The status of the assessment points and groundwater
to Timsbury north of Romsey. It includes the Wallop units within this WRMU were calculated to be “Water
Brook, the River Dun, Somborne Stream and the Available”. They were over-ridden to “No Water
associated chalk groundwater catchments. The middle Available” in order to protect flows in the Lower Test
Test valley is characterised by a number of wetland which are “Over-Licensed”.
SSSIs which are important separately and in particular
as a diverse collection of floodplain wetland habitats.
Available” to ensure that the flows in the Lower Test
The main river forms part of the River Test SSSI and
are maintained.
passes through Stockbridge Fen SSSI and Stockbridge
Common Marsh SSSI. The unit is mostly arable and
pasture with the only sizeable town being Stockbridge 5.13.3. Guidance on the assessment of new
in which the river is a tourist focus. The carriers applications
and drains of the old water meadow systems again There will be a presumption against issuing licences
feature prominently in this unit. Virtually all licensed for summer consumptive abstraction from surface
abstraction within the unit is for non-consumptive water.
fish farming. There are three public water supply
abstractions within the unit at West Tytherley, The Agency will consider applications for abstractions
Timsbury and Horsebridge. There is very little from surface water between November and March
abstraction on the River Dun and the Wallop Brook. using winter storage. A “hands-off flow” of a winter
The waste water treatment works (WWTW) draining Q50 is likely to be applied.
Andover discharges into the the northern section The Agency will retain the existing policy of a
of the unit above Leckford. Statutory water quality presumption against issuing consumptive licences
objectives within the unit are achieving their “Very from the chalk
Good” and “Good” targets. Fisheries in this area are
among some of the most famous and valuable in the Non-consumptive licences will generally be considered
country. Their status and reputation as a dry-fly trout subject to environmental assessment and meeting the
fishery attract anglers from all over the world. three tests of: need for water, making efficient use of

licences
There are 3 licences within this unit with “hands-off
flow” conditions. Two are winter abstractions and
linked to Chilbolton gauging station on the River Test
with “hands-off flows” of 4.6 and 5.3 cumecs. The
remaining licence is all year and linked to Broadlands
gauging station with a “hands-off flow” of 5.77
cumecs.
5.14. Remaining CAMS Area end of 2002 explaining the scope for water rights
trading within current legislation. Consultation on
not within an WRMU more detailed proposals followed in 2003. After
considering the responses to this consultation
exercise, further information will be made available to
5.14.1. Description
update Licence Holders on the Agency’s conclusions
The majority of the CAMS area is within a Water for a detailed framework within which water
Resource Management Unit. Streams that the rights trading will take place. This information and
CAMS does not address are the Monks Brook at guidance will be timed to coincide with the expected
Eastleigh, Tanners Brook flowing through Millbrook in implementation of the sections of the Water Act
Southampton and other small coastal, urban streams. 2003 that are most relevant to trading. Further
information on Water Rights Trading is available on
the Environment Agency web site (www.environment-
5.14.2. Guidance on the assessment of new
agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres).
applications
for summer consumptive abstraction from surface 5.16. The Water Act 2003
water.
Following the first major review of the abstraction
The Agency will consider applications for winter licensing system since its inception in 1963, the
storage abstractions from surface water between Government set out, in 1999, a new framework for
November and March. A “hands-off flow” of a winter managing water resources. The CAMS process and the
Q50 is likely to be applied. move to time limited licences are key elements of the
new framework, which is completed by revisions to
the statutory framework introduced by the Water Act
2003. The Act updates the Water Resources Act 1991
in several key areas:
• Deregulation of small abstractions
with a common end date of 2013, with a normal • New controls on previously exempt abstractions
renewal period of 12 years. for mine and quarry dewatering, trickle and other
forms of irrigation, transfers into canals and internal
drainage districts
licences • Stronger powers for water resources planning and
management
subject to the other renewal criteria and local • Changes to the legal status of abstraction licences
• More flexibility to the licensing regulations to
improve its efficiency and to encourage trading
• Stronger powers on water conservation
5.15. Opportunities for licence For more details on the Act and its implementation,
see the Agency’s web-site, www.environment-agency.
trading in the Test & Itchen gov.uk.
CAMS The Agency web site will be updated to provide
information as the Water Act is implemented.
One of the objectives of the CAMS process is to
facilitate water rights trading. The term “water rights
trading” refers to the transferring of licensable water
rights from one party to another, for benefit. It
involves a voluntarily movement of a right to abstract
water between abstractors, using the abstraction
licensing process. More detailed information is
available in ‘Managing Water Abstraction’.
A guidance leaflet (Water Rights Trading) was
published and sent to Licence Holders towards the
6
Future developments in the CAMS

area
6.1. Planning Water Resources • Refusing new abstraction or impoundment licences
to companies with poor leakage or water efficiency
The Environment Agency and water companies work statistics and activity.
together to plan the management of water resources • Encouragement of water company bulk transfers
for the future. This results in strategies at a number of and sharing of resources between areas of surplus
levels which include the following: and deficit and other increased “integration”,
providing there are no adverse effects.
6.1.1. Environment Agency Strategies • Future strategic resource developments should
The Environment Agency published National and ideally be shared resources benefiting more than
Regional Water Resources Strategies in March 2001. one company.
The National Strategy defines the abstraction licensing
framework at high level while the strategy for 6.1.2. Water Company Water Resource Plans
Southern Region “Water resources for the future – a
strategy for Southern Region” identifies a preferred At the Water Summit in May 1997 the Government
approach to meet the demand for water whilst set out its expectations for the water industry. The
protecting the environment in Hampshire, Isle of Deputy Prime Minister announced a range of
Wight, Sussex and Kent. Each strategy looks some initiatives including leakage reduction and water
25 years ahead and considers the need of public efficiency measures. To support these initiatives,
water supply, agriculture, commerce and industry the Environment Agency asked water companies to
as well as the environment. Progress of the Regional prepare water resources plans. These compare and
and National Strategy is reviewed annually. New balance the water resources available (supply) against
information on water supply and demand, particularly the water required to meet the population’s needs
in respect to public water supply, will be assessed (demand) forecast over 25 years.
through this process. New information on forecast The first of these plans were submitted as part of
growth in housing and climate change are particular the 1999 periodic review process. Companies
issues being monitored. reported progress annually against these plans to
Assumptions are made about the potential the Environment Agency. The water resources plans
development of new resources, the realistic potential were then revised and resubmitted as part of the
for savings in forecast water use and the cut backs 2004 periodic review process. The main proposals for
required to maintain or restore sustainable abstraction Hampshire are summarised in Section 6.4.
in some areas. Key principles underlying the regional The Water Act 2003 amends the Water Industry Act
strategy include: 1991 such that water companies will now have a
• Promoting efficient water use by industry, statutory duty to prepare, consult upon and publish
commerce, agriculture and in the home. Water Resource Management Plans. Water companies
will submit their plans to Ministers in 2009.
• Making best use of available water resources before
developing new schemes. The new procedure for the submission of Water
Resource Management Plans involves a number of
• Taking account of the potential impact of climate new stages including consultation, consideration
change. of commercially confidential information and
• Requiring water companies to explore the publication. Regulations for the plans come into force
economic and environmental benefits of in November 2006 following the commencement of
leakage control, metering and water efficiency duty order in October 2006. Companies will produce
measures,with all licence applications. draft plans for consultation in early 2008 and their
final plans by June 2009.
Reductions in abstraction licences required by the These opportunities are:
Habitats Regulations Review of Consents are a • Provision on request of a free meter
reflection of Hampshire’s high quality environment.
The Agency’s Southern Region is investigating the • Metering of new homes
viability of new or enlarged reservoirs in the region • Metering on change of home ownership
and includes one at Havant Thicket in Hampshire.
Together with further work on water efficiency • Metering of users of sprinklers and other
supported by new duties on all public bodies in the unattended watering devices
Water Act 2003, this is part of the Agency’s twin track • Metering of houses with swimming pools
approach to water resource management.
• Compulsory metering, if “water scarcity status” is
applied for by a water company and approved by
6.2. Promoting Water Efficiency the Secretary of State
Water efficiency measures help to reduce water

demand. As such throughout this CAMS area,
the Agency will seek to reduce water demand by
promoting water efficiency. This will be achieved
through methods, polices and principles set out in
the National and Regional Water Resources Strategies.
Water companies also have a duty under the Water
Industry Act (1991), amended by the Environment
Act (1995), to promote the efficient use of water
by their customers and ensure that their own use of
water is efficient. They also have a new duty under
the Water Act 2003 to ‘further water conservation’
It is clear that there will have to be a change in
approach to the use of water in the south-east. In the
face of increased rates of development and climate
change, new and re-fitted houses will have to be
more water-efficient to protect water supplies and the
environment. In practice, installing water-saving taps,
WCs, showers and washing machines incurs no extra
costs and promotes sustainable lifestyles. Standards
for the use of water in the home are set out in the Domestic water meter
emerging Code for Sustainable Homes (based on BRE
EcoHomes), but if these measures are not adopted 6.2.2. Leakage
voluntarily by all planning authorities and developers
then building regulations will have to be changed. All water companies operating in this CAMS area have
achieved their Ofwat leakage targets. The National
and Regional Water Resources Strategy expects
6.2.1. Water metering further economic leakage control progress to be made
Metering can reduce water consumption by between through the next 25 years.
2% and 14%, depending upon volumetric charge.
The Agency’s Southern Region Water Resources 6.2.3. Building design
Strategy assumes that in 2025 a water meters will
be installed in a minimum of 50–75% households Improved water efficiency should be a key component
in Hampshire. The current take up for Southern of all new housing developments, because on average
Water’s Hampshire resource zones combined is only 3% of all household water consumption is
around 23% (based on figures for 2004/5 reported actually for drinking. House builders can help reduce
in Southern Water’s Annual Review submitted to water consumption by installing water efficient
the Environment Agency in June 2005). There is a domestic appliances, bathroom fittings and rainwater
long way to go to get to the levels that the Agency storage systems.The Office of the Deputy Prime
judges to be necessary to secure long term supplies Minister (ODPM) is currently reviewing a requirement
and help protect the environment. However, the that all new buildings should be designed and
required 2025 metering levels are achievable within equipped to enable them to save around 20% of per
the opportunities that water companies have to meter capita consumption, within a revised ‘Part H’ of the
within current legislation. buildings regulations.
consider adaptation, including the option of using
water efficiently. The impact on public water supply is
less clear but recent modelling work suggests that the
deployable output of some systems will be reduced.
For more information on the Agency’s ongoing work
on climate change, please refer to Appendix 1 of the
Regional Water Resources Strategy. More details on
climate change scenarios are available at www.ukcip.
org.uk/scenarios.
6.4. Water Resource Schemes

relevant to the Test and Itchen
New house building
CAMS Area
Sustainable drainage systems (or SUDS) is the practice Water Company water resource plans submitted to
of controlling surface water runoff as close to its origin the Environment Agency in March 2004 provide the
as possible, before it is discharged to a watercourse current basis of understanding of the public water
or the ground. This involves moving away from supply demand balance and potential future water
traditional drainage systems to softer engineering resources schemes.
solutions. The benefits are reduced flood risk,
improved water quality and increased groundwater
recharge. This water can also be collected and reused 6.4.1. Strategic Public Water Supply Transfers
for non-potable purposes. The largest consumptive abstractions from the River
Test and River Itchen are for public water supply.
6.2.4. Water Audits The water abstracted is not simply used within the
catchment but also forms part of the larger Hampshire
All businesses can use their water wisely. By investing and Isle of Wight area water supply system. The main
a little time and money in implementing a simple public water supply transfer operations affecting the
water management plan, an organisation may reduce Test and Itchen catchment are summarised below
its water consumption significantly, releasing money and shown in Figure 30 (A more detailed technical
to be invested in other parts of the business and summary is available in the Technical Document).
establishing ‘green’ credentials. Water audits allow the
volume of water used during an average year to be Portsmouth Water Abstraction
calculated and suggest ways to reduce water use and Portsmouth Water is licensed to abstract up to 45
therefore costs. For more information on how you can Ml/d from the River Itchen at Gaters Mill, although
save water, either at home or at work, please refer to the average abstraction is 30 Ml/d (and has been less
the Appendix 1. in recent years due to water quality issues). Once
treated the water is transferred to the ‘Gosport &
6.3. Climate Change Waterlooville’ water resource zone of Portsmouth
Water. The water company also has connections for
Climate change is an important issue facing water an emergency backup to its Portsmouth and Havant
resources management. The latest climate change Water Resource Zone.
scenarios from the UK Climate Impacts Programme
The Cross Solent main
suggest that temperatures will rise across England and
Wales. By the 2050s, in southern England summers Southern Water operates this pipeline which currently
will become drier and winters will be wetter. This has the capacity to transfer up to 11.85 Ml/d under
has important implications for water availability, as the Solent from ‘Hampshire South’ to ‘Isle of Wight’
it will change groundwater and river regimes. For resource zone. The transfer is used to support a
instance, rainfall is becoming both more seasonal limited availability of water on the Isle of Wight. The
and of increasing intensity, which could lead to supply comes from the River Test at Testwood and
higher runoff and less water able to percolate into equates to 5% of the current available supplies of
the aquifers which supply the bulk of public water Southern Water’s ‘Hampshire South’ zone.
supply in this area. It is likely that direct abstractions
will become less reliable in summer, which means that
farmers and industries who rely on them will have to
420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000 480000
160000
160000
Kennet and Pang
Loddon
150000
150000
Hampshire Avon
Andover
Candover Augmentation
Scheme
140000
140000
eam
ver Str
Wey
Cando
Test & Itchen
Alre Augmentation
t
Tes
Itchen River Alre Scheme

130000
130000
Winchester
Otterbourne
120000
120000
on
Southampton Arun & Western Streams

Testwood Gaters Mill
East Hampshire
PW
abs
trac
tion
110000
110000
C r Ma
os in
sS
ole
nt
New Forest
100000
100000
Fawley Portsmouth
Cowes
Knapp Mill
90000
90000
r
Newport
Ya
n
er
Isle of Wight
st
Ea
Medina
Augmentation
ina
ed
Boreholes
rM
Yar Augmentation
ve
80000
80000
Ri
Boreholes
Ventnor
420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000 480000

Southern Water Wessex Water Catchment Abstraction Management boundaries
Portsmouth Water Transfers of Water Proposed location of Havant Thicket Reservoir
Thames Water Augmentation Schemes Arrow indicates supply area © Crown Copyright.
South East Water Inter zonal transfers All rights reserved.
Cholderton & District Water 5 2.5 0 5 10 15 Environment Agency
Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water Kilometers 100026380, 2006
Figure 30 – Main Public Water Supply Transfers
Esso reserve supply
Southern Water reserves 22.7 Ml/d from Testwood for
the Esso refinery at Fawley. Bournemouth and West
Hampshire Water are the main suppliers to Esso. The
Southern Water reserve has occasionally been called
upon to supply 8 to 12 Ml/d.
Candover & Alre Augmentation Schemes

These schemes are detailed in section 3.5.
6.4.2. Future options

Following assessment of forecast growth in demand
and potential reductions in water available, the
Agency and water companies are considering the
following schemes which are relevant to this CAMS
area:
• Increasing the capacity of the cross-Solent main
from Testwood to the Isle of Wight
• Removing operational and process constraints and
reducing process losses at waterworks
• Increasing treatment capacity at Testwood
• Increasing licence at Testwood
• Reducing abstraction at Otterbourne to meet the
needs of Habitats Regulations Review of Consents
• Desalination
• Effluent re-use schemes
• Creation of a reservoir by Portsmouth Water at
Havant Thicket potentially allowing water to be
transferred to neighouring water companies

7
Post-CAMS Actions
The following table lists key actions that need to be undertaken before the next review of the Test & Itchen
CAMS commencing in April 2010.
The progress of these actions will be monitored and a yearly update report produced.
Table 6 I Key Actions
Actions Who by When
Implement licence changes as required by Habitats Regulations

Environment Agency 2006–2010
Review of Consents on River Itchen
Undertake ecological survey to ascertain conservation value of

Anton and Pillhill Brook
Conduct study to investigate hydro-ecological impact of

abstraction on Anton and Pillhill Brook
Undertake ecological survey comparing reaches of Bourne Rivulet Environment Agency 2006–2008
Conduct study to investigate hydro-ecological impact of

abstraction on reaches of Bourne Rivulet
Undertake ecological survey to ascertain impacts of current and

potential abstraction on Lower Test
Investigate potential flow distribution solutions to abstraction

impacts on Lower Test
Investigate whether Habitats Regulations Review of Consents River

Itchen conclusions can be applied to River Test
A1
Water efficiency contacts
General / all sectors Public sector

Environment Agency Watermark
The Environment Agency provides a range of free Watermark is an initiative from OCGbuying.solution
guidance on water efficiency, including best practice (part of the Office of Government Commerce in
case studies for agriculture, business, industry, public theTreasury) for public sector organisations. It has
sector and the domestic consumer. Consult produced benchmarks for a wide range of public
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/savewater or sector buildings and offers access to a shared savings
telephone 01903 832275. scheme for the installation of new, water efficient,
devices. Consult www.watermark.gov.uk
Water companies
For local water efficiency advice, contact your water Water in the School
company. Water in the School is a website supported by a
number of water companies aimed at National
Portsmouth Water Curriculum Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils and their
www.portsmouthwater.co.uk teachers. It provides a wealth of information for
pupils on how to make savings. Consult www.
Southern Water
waterintheschool.co.uk
www.southernwater.co.uk
South East Water Hospitals

www.southeastwater.co.uk.
Water UK
Water Regulations Advisor Service Water UK has collaborated with NHS Estates and
WRAS provides advice on the Water Supply (Water Watermark to produce Water Efficient Hospitals, an
Fittings) Regulations which prevents waste, misuse, information pack to help hospitals use water wisely
undue consumption or contamination of wholesome and save money by cutting both water and energy
water. Consult www.wras.co.uk or telephone 01495 bills. Consult www.water.org.uk/index.php?cat=3-
248454. 4701
Business / Commercial Agriculture & Horticulture

Envirowise UK Irrigation Association (UKIA)
Envirowise is a Government programme offering free, The UKIA provides information on irrigation to its
independent advice on practical ways for industrial members and runs technical workshops. Consult
and commercial SME’s (Small and Medium sized www.ukia.org
Enterprise) to minimise waste and convert turnover
into profit. Envirowise has a specific water section DEFRA’s Rural Development Service (RDS)
on their site called ‘Waternet’, which includes links DEFRA’s Rural Development Service provides grants
to guidance published around the world and a for agricultural water resources management schemes
benchmarking tool. Consult under its Rural Enterprise Scheme. Consult www.defra.
gov.uk/erdp/default.htm or telephone 0845 9335577.
www.envirowise.gov.uk/waternet or telephone the
Environment & Energy helpline: 0800 585 794. Linking Environment & Farming (LEAF)
LEAF promote and develop integrated farm
management, this includes whole farm water savings.
Consult www.leafuk.org
Glossary of Terms
Abstraction Chalk
Removal of water from a source of supply (surface A soft white fine-grained limestone which forms a
water or groundwater). major aquifer.
Abstraction – Actual Conjunctive use

The volume of water actually abstracted as opposed to A water supply system which relies on more than one
the volume of water that may be abstracted under the source of water. This can include systems containing
terms of an abstraction licence. Individual abstraction both surface water and groundwater sources.
records are reported to the Environment Agency each
year. Cyprinid fish
Fish of the family Cyprinidae, e.g. roach, carp,
Abstraction Licence within the order of the Osteichythye. Almost entirely
The authorisation granted by the Environment Agency inhabiting freshwater, with over 3,000 species
under section 38 of the Water Resources Act 1991 to including Characins, Loaches and Carps.
permit water abstraction.
Consumptive Abstraction/Use
Aquifer Use of water which results in a significant proportion
A geological formation, group of formations or part of water abstracted not being returned either directly
of a formation that can store and transmit water in or indirectly to a source of supply e.g. spray irrigation.
significant quantities.
Demand Management
Asset Management Plan (AMP) The implementation of policies or measures which
AMP are produced by the water companies for serve to control or influence the consumption or
OFWAT and set out the investment programme for waste of water.
the water industry. These plans are drawn up through
consultation with the Environment Agency and other Deployable Output
bodies to cover a five year period. The output of a commissioned source or group of
sources or of bulk supply as constrained by:
Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)
• Environment
Established at a National level in 1995 as part of the
Government’s commitment to conserving biodiversity • Licence, if applicable
made at the ‘Earth Summit’ held in Rio in 1992. The
• Pumping plant and /well/aquifer properties
plan identified over 100 species and 14 habitats for
targeted action for protection. This national plan • Raw water mains and/or aqueducts
has now been translated into local actions and the • Transfer and/or output main
Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) focuses on
habitats and species listed in the plan found in the • Treatment
local area. • Water quality
Borehole Derogation
Well sunk into a water bearing rock from which water In legal terms, the taking away of protected rights
will be pumped. under the Water Resources Act due to the granting of
a new licence.
Catchment
The area from which precipitation and groundwater Discharge Consent
will collect and contribute to the flow of a specific A statutory document issued by the Environment
river system. Agency, which defines the legal limits and conditions
on the discharge of an effluent into controlled waters.
Drought Hands-Off Flow (HOF)/Minimum residual flow
A general term for prolonged periods of below (MRF)
average rainfall resulting in low river flows and/or low A condition attached to the abstraction licence so that
recharge to groundwater, imposing significant strain if the flow in the river falls below the flow specified
on water resources and potentially the environment. on the licence then the abstractor may be required to
stop or reduce the abstraction.
Effluent
Liquid waste from industrial, agricultural or sewage Hydrogeology
plants. Branch of geology concerned with water within the
Earth’s crust.
Environmental Weighting
An assessment of a river’s sensitivity to abstraction Hydrology
based on physical characteristics, fisheries, The study of water on and below the earth’s surface.
macrophyte and macro-invertebrates for a catchment/
sub-catchment. Hydrometry
The measurement of water on or below the earth’s
Eutrophication surface.
Ecological change caused by the addition of nutrients
to freshwater eg. Phosphates, Nitrates. Hydrometric Network
A system of sites monitoring rainfall, river flow,
Flood plain groundwater levels, river and lake levels and some
Land adjacent to a watercourse that is subject to climatic parameters. The data is used extensively for
flooding. water resources management and planning, water
quality and ecological protection and improvement,
Gauging Station flood defence, flood forecasting and flood warning.
A site here the flow of a river is measured.
Intermittent Stream
Grilse A stream which flows for part of the year usually
An adult salmon returning to the river after one winter during or after winter rainfall.
at sea.
Irrigation
Groundwater Supply (land) with water by means of artificial canals,
Water which is contained in underground rocks ditches etc, especially to promote the growth of food
(aquifers). crops.
Groundwater Management Unit (GWMU) Licence of Right
An area of aquifer delineated to allow the assessment Licence granted under section 23 of the Water
of groundwater resources. Resources Act 1963 in respect of an abstraction
that was already in operation when that Act was
Groundwater Protection Policy
implemented in 1965.
Environment Agency policy relating to groundwater
recharge areas to control activities having the Low flow
potential to pollute underground water. Low flows are defined by the river flow (Q) which,
under benchmark or natural conditions would be
Habitat
exceeded for 95% of the time (95). This is referred to
Place in which a species or community of species live,
as Q95.
with characteristic plants and animals.
Macrophytes
Habitats Directive
Aquatic plants
The European Directive on the Conservation of
Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna Main river
– known as the Habitats Directive – was adopted by The watercourse shown on the statutory “Main River
the European Commission in 1992. The Directive is Maps” held by the Agency and Defra. The Agency has
implemented in the UK by the Conservation (Natural permissive powers to carry out works of maintenance
Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994 – commonly known and improvements on these rivers.
as the ‘Habitats Regulations’.
Naturalisation RAM Framework
Process of converting gauged flows to natural flows by Resource Assessment and Management Framework
removing abstraction and discharge impacts – this will – a technical framework for resource assessment (for
produce the benchmark flow. the definition and reporting of CAMS) and subsequent
resource management (including abstraction
Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NZV) licensing).
Farmers located within these NVZs are required to
adhere to an action programme of measures to ensure Ramsar
that the amount of nitrate lost from their land to the A site of international conservation importance
polluted waters is reduced. classified at the ‘Convention on Wetlands of
International Importance’ 1971, ratified by the UK
Non-Consumptive Abstraction Government in 1976.
Abstraction where the water used is returned to
a source close to or at the point of supply, e.g. Recharge
hydropower generation, fish farming etc. Water which percolates downward from the surface
into groundwater.
Outflows
The movement of water out (losses) of a defined area Revocation
of an aquifer. These include spring flows, baseflow to Cancellation of a licence and associated rights and
surface waters and movement of underground water benefits.
past a defined boundary.
Salmonids
Parr Members of the family salmonidae, include salmon,
Juvenile freshwater lifestage of Trout and Salmon. trout and char.
Percolation Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI)

The decent of water through soil pores and rock Sites designated by Local Authorities for planning
crevices. purposes as locally important for conservation
interests.
Permeability
The characteristic of a rock or soil that determines the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
rate at which fluids pass through the rock or soil under A site given a statutory designation by English Nature
the influence of differential pressure. or the Countryside Council for Wales because of its
importance to nature conservation.
Precautionary Principle
It cannot be taken for granted that a licence will Smolt
be issued for abstraction from this area. A licence Lifestage of Trout and Salmon between freshwater
application will be fully assessed and it is highly likely parr and seawater ‘adult’ phase, where parr undergo a
that it will have some constraints. process of pre-adaption to a saltwater environment.
Presumption against Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

It cannot be taken for granted that a licence will Internationally important nature conservation site
be issued for abstraction from this area. A licence designated under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/
application will be fully assessed and it is highly likely EEC).
that it will have some constraints.
Special Protection Area (SPA)
Public Water Supply (PWS) Internationally important nature conservation site
Term used to describe the supply of water provided by designated under the EU Wild Birds Directive (79/409/
a water undertaker. EEC).
Q95 Spray Irrigation

The flow of a river which is exceeded on average for The irrigation of land or plants (including seeds) by
95% of the time. water emerging from apparatus designed or adapted
to eject water into the air in the form of jets or spray.
Spring
A surface watercourse that occurs where the water
table intersects the ground surface.
Surface Water
This is a general term used to describe all above
ground water features such as rivers, streams, springs,
ponds and lakes.
Sustainable Development
Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. This involves
meeting four objectives simultaneously:
• social progress which recognises the needs of
everyone;
• effective protection of the environment;
• prudent use of natural resources;
• maintenance of high and stable levels of economic
growth and employment.
Time Limited Licence

An abstraction licence with specified end date.
Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge

An electronic device for measuring rainfall.
Trickle irrigation
The watering of crops by slow release of small
amounts of water through holes in pipes laid on the
ground.
Water Resource Management Unit (WRMU)

An area that has similar groundwater and or
surface water characteristics defined for the local
management of water resources.
Water Resource Strategies

Strategy for water resource planning in England and
Wales over the next 25 years to ensure sustainable
use and sufficient water for all human uses with
an improved water environment. The strategies
predict demand using different social and economic
scenarios.
List of Acronyms,
Abbreviations and Units
AP OFWAT
Assessment Point Office of Water Services
OL
AONB
Over licensed
Area of outstanding Natural Beauty
PWS
BAP
Public Water Supply
Biodiversity Action Plan
RAM
CAMS
Resource Assessment and Management
Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy
RBMP
CFMP
River Basin Management Plan
Catchment Flood Management Plan
RISS
CUMECS
River Itchen Sustainability Study
Cubic Meters Per Second
SAC
DEFRA
Special Area of Conservation
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(formally DETR and MAFF) SNCI
EU Site of Nature Conservation Importance
European Union SPA
GWMU Special Protection Area
Groundwater Management Unit SSSI
HOF Site of Special Scientific Interest
Hands-off Flow SUDS
km² Sustainable Drainage Systems
Square kilometers UKCIP
m United Kingdom Climate Impacts Programme
Meters WA
Ml/d Water available
Megalitres (million litres) per day WFD
MRF Water Framework Directive
Minimum Residual Flow WLMP
NWA Water Level Management Plan
No water available WRMU
OA Water Resource Management Unit
Over abstracted WWTWs
Waste Water Treatment Works.

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We welcome feedback including comments about the content and

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The Test and Itchen

The Environment Agency is the leading public body protecting and

Our work includes tackling flooding and pollution incidents, reducing

© Environment Agency March 2006

All rights reserved. This document may be reproduced with

This report is printed using water based inks on Revive, a recycled

Front cover photograph by Rod Murchie.

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PO Box 12 Cambria House Exeter

Richard Fairclough House 29 Newport Road

0845 988 1188

Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies

Environment Agency Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy 

Consultation on the Test & Itchen CAMS

The CAMS Area

420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000

Figure 1 – CAMS Area Overview

420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000

420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000

Rivers © CEH Wallingford

Figure 3 – Hydrometric Sites

the total licenced volumes by purpose for the 

catchments and Figure 5 the location of licensed  

two augmentation schemes on the River Alre and

 Environment Agency TheTest and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy

420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000

Groundwater Abstraction Surface Water Abstraction

Figure 5 – Licensed Abstractions

420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000

Rivers © CEH Wallingford

Figure 7 – Consented Discharges of more than 10 cubic

420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000

Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 4 2 0 4 8 12

Ramsar Site Rivers © CEH Wallingford

Figure 8 – Designated Conservation Sites

An important feature of the Directive is the

Resource assessment and resource

Table 2 I Resource availability status categories

Indicative resource Definition Colour coding for

Over-licensed Current actual abstraction is resulting in no water available Orange

Water may be available at high flows with appropriate

Over-abstracted Existing abstraction is causing unacceptable environmental Red

4.2.1. River Itchen Sustainability Study

420000 430000 440000 450000 460000 470000

River Assessment Points

Rivers © CEH Wallingford

Figure 9 – Groundwater Management Units and River

Assessment Assessment Point Name Main Environmental

Availability In order to maximise abstraction while maintaining

4.7. Definition of Water

Rivers Water Resource Management Units

Hatched area within

Figure 10 – Water Resource Management Units

WRMU WRMU Description Main Water Resource

Proposed licensing strategy

5.5.1. Description 5.5.2. Sustainability Appraisal Conclusions

5.5.4. Renewals and management of existing

5.6. WRMU 2 Candover – Figure 14

Figure 14 – WRMU Licence Volume by Purpose

Environment Agency Test and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy

the total licenced volumes by purpose for the

catchments and Figure 5 the location of licensed

Environment Agency TheTest and Itchen Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy