WCI has created a phosphate credit scheme for all the relevant river catchments in the South and South West of England that works. Our scheme is based on the proven mitigation strategy of septic tank and treatment plant upgrades and is supported by independently prepared legal agreements, scheme-specific S106 agreements and a carefully considered process which assures the credit supply.
No Nonsense Nutrient Neutrality
It’s simple really. Our environment is laden with too many phosphates which is, in part, due to the people living there.
Those people simply don’t use all the phosphates that they eat and the rest ends up in sewage.
The septic tanks, treatment plants and even some of our municipal treatment works that treat our sewage aren’t very good at removing phosphates so the excess phosphates end up in our rivers and the environment.
The nutrient neutrality rules are trying to stop more phosphates being discharged into the environment.
So for any new development to be awarded planning permission, it has to be nutrient neutral. That means zero extra phosphates to the environment.
But even the state of the art treatment plants and the best municipal treatment works can’t remove all the phosphates.
So there’s always an amount of phosphates that needs to be mitigated
What better way to balance the books than to improve on the phosphates from existing properties to allow for new properties to be built?
No vast areas of productive farming land lost to support new housing (and better food security and lower food miles)
No need to wait for woodland to mature for land use mitigation to be viable
Everyone does their part, not just those new to the housing ladder
WCI’s Phosphate Credit Scheme is built on septic tank and treatment plant upgrades. Here’s how:
Property Owner
If you’re a property owner, we’ll upgrade your existing septic tank or treatment plant to create a phosphate betterment.
You may be surprised by just how much helping the environment can help you.
WCI is uniquely placed to deliver on our promise of no nonsense nutrient neutrality.
Our consultant engineers have been designing foul drainage solutions for planning approval for years. We understand development, planning and the regulatory environment. That includes preparing over 50 NNAMS in the last year or so.
Our Construction division has been installing treatment plants for 40 years.
Our British Water-Accredited Service Engineers are trained and qualified in the commissioning and maintenance of treatment plants.
We have the resources and balance sheet to deliver on our promises.