Abstraction incentive mechanism

The Abstraction Incentive Mechanism (AIM) is an Ofwat scheme to reduce abstraction from sources that are considered environmentally sensitive. Thames Water has implemented AIM since April 2016. 

AIM’s objective is to encourage water companies to reduce the perceived impact of water abstraction at sites considered potentially environmentally sensitive. It's also designed to complement existing management tools e.g. National Environment Programme Sustainability Reductions, and Hands Off Flows.

Implementing AIM shouldn't impact security of supply or deployable output and there should be no capital investment for the scheme. Thames Water has implemented AIM at sites where it wasn't cost beneficial to undertake licence reductions using the existing management tools. To identify the final sites selected a full review of all potential environmentally sensitive abstractions was completed. You can download this below.