Nature Based Solutions: are they a suitable competitor with wastewater companies’ grey infrastructure? PAPER & PRESENTATION
Dawe, E.-K., Parnell-Pope, L. and Patel, N., Aqua Consultants, UK,
(free)
Abstract
In wastewater management, Nature Based Solutions (NBS) is an emerging approach and fast becoming an essential consideration. However, the PR24 cycle has shown that NBS are not always cost-beneficial. There is also a lack of case studies supporting their real-world ability to meet the increasingly stringent regulatory permits for environmental outcomes.
In this paper we evaluate industry available NBS for treatment of phosphate and BOD from typical small works to the effluent levels required under the AMP8 permit regulations. We also discuss the cost benefits comparison of NBS against conventional grey solutions and how a higher cost-benefit analysis (CBA) could be justified to establish a NBS on a works, especially with the new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
regulations. As NBS develop it will likely become a requirement on water companies to opt for NBS as business as usual with policy further increasing the value or requirement on companies to outweigh CBA.
Regulators are already starting to put a monetary value to biodiversity and nutrient pollution by interacting Sustainable Drainage Systems, BNG and Nutrient Neutrality at local, catchment and landscape scale.
