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The importance of an ecosystem approach for Scotland’s water Maggie Gill Chief Scientific Adviser Rural Affairs and Environment Scottish Government Content • How important is water to Scotland? • What we are aiming for and how? • Case study • Take away messages Ecosystem Services • Clean water for domestic consumption • Water in support of Food and Drink industry • Flood protection • Transportation • Renewable Energy • Recreation Public water supply: daily consumption in Scotland Domestic Consumption Non Domestic Consumption Million litres per day (Ml/d) 752 524 Whisky • 41,000 jobs in Scotland • Gross value added in the Scottish spirits sector is £1.4 bn or 1.4% of GDP • 2007 record year for whisky exports £2.82bn in shipment value = 25% of UK and >66% of Scottish food and drink exports Soils • Scotland’s soils hold 40 billion litres of water when fully wet. More than is in all the fresh water lochs • Soil prevents immediate release to rivers helping to avoid flooding Water Framework Directive and Scotland: Act passed 2003 • Aims - protect, enhance, and restore all bodies of surface and ground water with the aim of achieving good surface and ground water status by 2027; and • …protect social and economic interests of those who depend on Scotland’s environment Water Framework Directive and Scotland • 53% of Scotland’s water bodies already meet the requirements • River Basin Management Plans required to include ecological objectives for all water bodies • More proactive targeting of specific catchments • Consultation and participation key Why an ecosystem based approach? • Framework for river basin management • Integrating conservation and enhancement of natural resources with social and economic objectives • Optimise the total value of ecosystem services in a river basin Case Study - Pitfirrane Minewater Treatment Scheme Source: SEPA Pitfirrane Minewater Treatment Scheme Ex Dunfermline coal mine – identified for remediation in 2015 RBMP cycle The problem – Minewater rises through mine workings – Dissolves metals from surrounding rock strata, oxides to ochre – Low iron concentration (5-7 mg/litre) but high flow rate (400 litres/sec) Pitfirrane Minewater Treatment Scheme Significant economic impact – Decline in visual attractiveness reduces investment – Unsuitable for fishing, irrigation, livestock watering and water supply The Solution • Treatment scheme – divert through two constructed large wetlands covering an area of 20,000m2 Benefits • Wetland reed beds enable filtration and settlement • Decrease contamination from 10mg/l entering reedbeds to 1mg/l leaving reedbeds • Reedbeds also increase the biodiversity of the area forming a concentrated habitat for insects and birds Issues • Impacts on communities • Intergenerational issues • Conflict and trade offs • Valuation Take-away messages • Multiple beneficiaries of clean water – communities and the economy • Water management closely tied to land management • Issues of who pays – research needed on valuation • ‘Science’ can help to deliver multiple benefits and to explore trade-offs • Community participation essential
