We recognise that our improvement projects could have effects on the environment and on our archaeological and cultural heritage.

When planning new projects, our in-house Ecology and Heritage team work closely with engineers, partners, construction specialists and contractors to avoid impacts on the environment and reduce any any potential damage.

They make sure we comply with all UK and European legislation relating to protected species, landscape, habitat, biodiversity, flood risks and archaeological and cultural heritage. 

We do this by checking every project we carry out, so that we identify any ecological or heritage issues as early as possible.

In 2010/11, the team assessed the ecological, archaeological and cultural heritage impacts of 203 projects in 543 locations. 

These ranged from small repairs to existing pipes and improvements to sewage works, through to major new cross-country pipelines and brand new reservoirs.

The team use a mapping system and our in-house site databases to identify protected or important wildlife, heritage and landscape sites.

They often obtain additional information on particular sites from biological records centres, county archaeologists, English Heritage, Natural England, and the Wildlife Trusts.

Site assessments and detailed surveys are carried out for the vast majority of our projects, helping us to plan around protected sites or species.

Where possible, they also try to identify opportunities where local environments can be improved as part of our work.

Click the links below to read about examples of our ecology and heritage assessment work.