Environment policy

Building our future identifies respect for the environment as one of NWL’s core values. The environment policy describes its commitment to deliver continuous environmental improvement.

Management responsibility

Everyone within NWL has responsibility for environmental issues; the Managing Director is accountable to the Board for these issues. The environment policy is implemented and monitored through the IMS and includes the setting and regular review of environmental objectives and targets. The Corporate Responsibility Committee provides advice on the development of the policy and further external advice is provided through ongoing stakeholder engagement.

Environmental legislation

NWL is committed to achieving and demonstrating compliance with all relevant environmental laws, regulations and standards and other applicable requirements. It keeps abreast of developments in environmental legislation, disseminates them throughout the business and incorporates them into business plans.

Environmental impacts

NWL is committed to preventing pollution, minimising adverse environmental impacts, in the context of its activities as a water supply and sewerage undertaker, and promoting positive environmental outcomes.  This is demonstrated through research to promote and deliver innovative solutions, together with an ongoing commitment to improve environmental performance across all of its activities, including asset design, construction, operation and disposal, focusing specifically on:

• Air and climate systems
NWL is committed to monitoring and minimising its emissions to air from both energy consumption and operational processes. This is demonstrated by reducing, where possible, energy consumption, using energy more efficiently and using renewable energy sources, where feasible. In addition, NWL aims to reduce the emissions resulting from its business travel and transport.

• The water environment
NWL will assess the potential environmental impact caused by the abstraction, treatment and distribution of water. When abstracting water from the environment, NWL will operate within its licence conditions to protect the water environment and related habitats. It recognises the need to balance recreational use of assets with other interests and is committed to doing this.

NWL is committed to protecting the water environment through the collection and treatment of sewage and other effluent. When releasing treated water back into the environment, its policy is to undertake sampling and monitoring to ensure that it operates within its consents to protect the water environment.

• Resource and raw material use
NWL aims to minimise the amount of raw materials consumed by its activities. Tenders will be screened to ensure environmental considerations are taken into account in the procurement process and it works in partnership with suppliers and contractors to minimise resource and raw material use and to improve their environmental performance.

• Waste
NWL will minimise the amount of waste generated by its activities and dispose of residual waste in a responsible manner.  It recognises that key wastes include spoil, water and wastewater sludge, and office waste and aims to reduce, re-use or recycle these wastes where possible.  In addition, NWL is committed to reducing the risk of contaminating land from spills on its sites.

• Conservation of biodiversity
NWL recognises the importance of conserving biodiversity and of designated conservation sites.  NWL recognises its obligation to conserve biodiversity on all its landholdings including those designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). NWL actively manages its SSSI landholdings towards meeting national condition status targets and implements and reports on its conservation activities through partnerships with local conservation groups and communities. Capital investment projects are screened to assess their impact on the environment and to identify opportunities for enhancement.  Operational activities are undertaken with regard to the conservation of biodiversity.

• Conservation of heritage
NWL is committed to conserving the historic environment, both at its sites that have archaeological and heritage interest and where its activities affect such sites. Capital investment projects are screened to assess their impact on cultural heritage, archaeology and landscape, and opportunities for enhancement.

• Local communities
NWL will act as a good neighbour, minimising noise, odour or other nuisance that may result from its operational activities. In addition, NWL will engage with the local community when planning, constructing and operating assets and will encourage the sensitive development of its sites to minimise their visual and nuisance impacts.

Communications

NWL will report on sustainable development activities within the corporate responsibility section of the Business Review in the Annual Report and Accounts which includes a review of environmental performance and describes its plans for the future.  NWL will disseminate information on its web site and encourage interested parties to comment on its environmental record. NWL uses its internal communications and training programmes to inform and motivate its employees to enable them to play a full role in implementing this policy.

Approved by the NWL Board on 24 April 2007.