Where are we now?
Water is one of the defining features of the Lea Valley; the watercourses and water
bodies of the valley have a long history of supporting activities within the valley.
We have identified five main areas of focus for the future management of water within
the Park.
1. Water Quality
Current water quality in a number of water courses within the Park, and particularly
in the lower Lea catchment is poor. Poor water quality reduces biodiversity, detracts
from the landscape (sight and smell), and is detrimental to the recreational and
leisure use of the Park. Responsibility for improving water quality lies with a
number of organisations and agencies, including the Environment Agency, Thames Water,
British Waterways, local authorities, as well as individual landowners.
2. Flood risk management
Climate change is expected to increase the probability of flooding through a combination
of intense rainfall and rising sea levels. The Lee Valley plays a vital role in
the managing flood risk in the region; many of the water bodies, watercourses and
open spaces within the Park provide capacity for floodwater storage. The flood management
network is largely owned and operated by the Environment Agency, however many of
the water bodies and watercourses that form the flood management network are owned
and managed by others, including us.
3. Waste water management
The Lee Valley is pivotal in the management of wastewater across north London and
Hertfordshire. Major sewage treatment works are located in, or adjacent to, the
Park, at Rye Meads and Edmonton. In addition, Abbey Mills Pumping Station (through
which the majority of north London’s sewage flows) is located adjacent to the Park
at Abbey Mill. The wastewater network is owned and operated by Thames Water.
4. Potable water supply
The Lee Valley has a long tradition of supplying drinking water for London. Water
supply infrastructure is an important feature of the Park, including the New River
(dating from 1600’s) and both historic and contemporary water treatment sites. A
series of reservoirs constructed at various times through the 19th and 20th centuries,
provide not only a significant proportion of London’s water but offer some of the
largest open water bodies and spectacular landscapes in London. The potable water
supply network is owned and operated by Thames Water.
5. Transportation
The River Lee has a long history as a transportation
route, tracing back into antiquity. Extensive development
of the canal network in the 18th and 19th centuries
supported the expanding industrialisation of the valley,
and the waterways were used commercially right up
until the 1980s.
The recent construction of Three Mills Lock on the
Prescott Channel by British Waterways is intended
to revive commercial transport on the Lee Navigation
system; with particular focus on construction of the
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It will also improve the
regeneration potential of the area and opportunities for
water based leisure and recreation.
Responsibility for maintaining navigation on the canal
system lies with British Waterways.
What do we want to achieve?
- To manage the future of water within the Park in such a way that it contributes
to all the objectives of the Park;
- Water is a key component of the Park’s offer as a visitor destination; providing
a range of sport, recreation, social and community opportunities, and playing a
key role in its biodiversity and landscape.
Water quality
We want the water quality of all watercourses and water bodies in the Park to be
sufficient to allow leisure and recreational use, and to contribute to the biodiversity
and landscape values of the Park
Flood risk management
We recognise the significant value of the flood management system and infrastructure
within the Park. We want this network to meet both its functional requirements,
and to contribute to the leisure and recreational, biodiversity and landscape values
of the Park.
Waste water management
We understand the importance of the wastewater management infrastructure within
the Park. We want a Park where the wastewater network is developed and managed effectively
to deliver a wide range of values, such as improvements to biodiversity and the
landscape.
Potable water supply
We recognise the importance of the potable water supply infrastructure within the
Park. We want this infrastructure to be further developed and managed so as to improve
access for leisure and recreational activities, and to nurture biodiversity and
the landscape.
Transportation
We want a Park in which the navigation network is developed and managed to provide
improved commercial use, and to be part of the delivery of values that include visitor
infrastructure, leisure and recreation, biodiversity and landscape.
How will we deliver?
On our estate
We will:
- Ensure that the future development and management of our open spaces and facilities
delivers:
- No net reduction in water quality or flood management capacity.
- A positive contribution to improved water quality.
- A net increase in flood management capacity (where possible).
- Best practice in relation to wastewater management and water consumption.
- Seek to maximize the efficient use of water where
possible by reducing demand, introducing water
efficient devices and systems in all new visitor facilities
and retrofitting existing buildings where possible.
Working with others
We will:
- Continue to work with partners to facilitate the delivery of a range of water management
functions on our own estate, provided that these functions will:
- Not compromise other Park functions or values (e.g. biodiversity, recreation, route
network, landscape etc).
- Where possible deliver merits over and above the identified water management benefits.
- Be 100% partner-funded in relation to implementation and long term management, except
where proposals relate entirely to our estate or facilities, or other benefits associated
with the developments warrant our contribution
Water quality
We will:
- Continue to encourage and work with the Environment
Agency, Thames Water, British Waterways and other
partners to deliver improvements to water quality. This
will encompass all watercourse and water bodies, both
in the Park and in the wider catchment of the River Lee
and its tributaries. Delivery of actions identified in the
Thames River Basin Management Plan will be a key
focus for all partners.
Flood Risk Management
We will:
- Continue to encourage and work with the Environment
Agency, and other partners, to ensure the existing
flood risk management infrastructure functions
effectively.
- Where possible expand and enhance the range of
values offered, to include biodiversity, sport and
recreation, visitor infrastructure and social and
community benefits. Initiatives will include:
- De-culverting (or daylighting) and naturalising water
courses
- River restoration
- Providing additional water based recreational activities
- Explore opportunities to utilise the estate’s open
spaces and water bodies for flood risk management
and additional flood storage capacity. Additional flood
storage capacity should seek to expand and enhance
the range of values offered by the Park.
Waste water management
We will:
- Continue to encourage and work with Thames Water,
and other partners, to ensure that the existing waste
water management infrastructure functions effectively.
- Work with Thames Water, the Environment Agency
and other partners to minimise and mitigate any impact
on the Park arising from new or increased capacity.
- Where possible expand and enhance the range
of values offered, including biodiversity, sport and
recreation, visitor infrastructure and social and
community benefits. Initiatives will include:
- Improving quality of outfall from sewage
treatment works.
- Mitigating impact of combined sewer over flows.
- Exploring opportunities for tertiary treatment of
effluent through wetland systems.
- De-culverting (or daylighting) and naturalising
watercourses.
- Overcome existing restrictions and barriers to access.
- Explore opportunities to utilise the Park’s open spaces
for ‘natural’ treatment of waste water. Any waste water
treatment should expand and enhance the range
of values offered by the Park e.g. creating new
wildlife habitats.
- Encourage the integration of Sustainable Urban
Drainage schemes as part of multifunctional green
infrastructure.
Potable water supply
We will:
- Continue to encourage and work with Thames Water
and other partners to maintain the existing potable
water supply system and infrastructure.
- Where possible expand and enhance the range of
values offered, to include biodiversity, sport and
recreation, visitor infrastructure, and social and
community benefits. Initiatives will include:
- De-culverting (or daylighting) and naturalising water
courses and water bodies.
- Overcoming existing restrictions and barriers
to access.
- Expanding and enhancing the visitor offer.
Transportation
We will continue to work with British Waterways
and other partners to:
- Maintain effective functioning of the navigation system
and infrastructure for commercial use.
- Ensure that the navigation system provides an
appropriate balance of values offered by the Park,
to include biodiversity, sport and recreation, visitor
infrastructure, and social and community benefits.
- Explore opportunities to enhance and support the
commercial use of the navigation system (e.g. wharfs,
bulk goods storage etc).