After five years in effect, nutrient neutrality is still a slow-moving process, but the NRC and RSK Biocensus have joined forces to develop a potential solution
The National Rivers Consortium (NRC) and Responsible Body RSK Biocensus have joined forces on a nutrient neutrality mitigation project to address the challenges facing new residential developments while remaining vigilant in protecting river ecology and wildlife.
The NRC, which works closely with Natural England and the Environment Agency to address contamination in England’s rivers, said it had approached RSK Biocensus as nutrient neutrality has been in effect for more than five years in some catchments and yet solutions had been slow to materialise.
Septic tanks and upgraded treatment plants proved most effective
NRC UK operations manager Graham Sinclair said: “This is partially owing to risk within the sector but it is also linked to uncertainty and the difficulty in agreeing technical solutions and monitoring and enforcement fees with local planning authorities, especially cross-boundary. The Conservation Covenant approach to securing nutrient mitigation measures provides a streamlined approach to this, allowing the local planning authority to be assured that the monitoring and enforcement obligations are fulfilled by a Secretary of State appointed Responsible Body, while also observing all cross-boundary enforcement requirements.”
Graham said the nutrient neutrality challenge was found to be most effectively addressed through septic tank upgrades supported by high efficacy package treatment plants.
RSK Biocensus associate director Tim Graham said the business would legally act as the Responsible Body (RB), ensuring that the proposed Package Treatment Plant performs as designed in perpetuity. Designated by Defra under the 2021 Environment Act, the RB agree, holds and enforces Conservation Covenants as legal agreements on land. These agreements can assist organisations in achieving their conservation goals while legally protecting outcomes in the long term, ensuring these are delivered for long-term public benefit.
Tim said: “RSK Biocensus have been looking to apply Conservation Covenants to help provide innovative solutions to the environmental challenges we face. With NRC we have found a unique and quality assured route to improve the nutrient status of some of our imperilled catchments. This is a win for nature recovery and a win for those developments that can quickly move forward.
The NRC and RSK Biocensus scheme benefits developers looking to create new housing developments within nutrient neutrality affected areas, of which there are many across the UK. It is capable of providing nutrient mitigation across the 27 affected catchments in England and specifically pertains to new residential developments and those which propose new overnight accommodation.
Graham explained that the nutrient reduction was achieved through the septic tank upgrades and a particular site’s demand quantified by undertaking site-specific nutrient budget calculations, using either the Natural England nutrient budget calculator, or the regional calculator where appropriate.
He said the NRC would be tasked in identifying and replacing older polluting septic tanks in order to generate nutrient credits. A credit produced is termed as a mass of total phosphorous and total nitrogen saved per year. The NRC will sell credits directly to developers and undertake ongoing monitoring and maintenance of the installed PTPs, reporting directly to the Responsible Body.
“As part of our upgrade function, the NRC will survey the tank, undertake the necessary technical work, install the treatment plant, monitor the treatment plant and service the treatment plant. In terms of credit sales, the NRC will liaise with developers, sell credits and update the nutrient ledger, which will be cross-checked by RSK Biocensus as the Responsible Body.”
The team said that the project had been designed to leverage all necessary skills
The ecological, regulatory and competency skills held by RSK Biocensus as the Responsible Body ensure that the tank is monitored and maintained in perpetuity and applying the necessary enforcement action where relevant. The NRC has the necessary skills to undertake the septic tank upgrades, either in-house or through its partners.
Graham added: “The team has already rolled out this solution across Kent and Norfolk, holding strategic mitigation contracts with both the Norfolk Council’s Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and the Kent Council’s SPV. The contracts currently signed are for 450kg/year of phosphorus (equivalent to approximately 435 tanks) and 500kg/year of phosphorus (equivalent to approximately 425 tanks). To date, the NRC has installed 268 package treatment plants across Norfolk and Kent, resulting in a yield of 336kg/year of total phosphorus and an associated yield of 2,892kg/year of total nitrogen. This is over the course of approximately two years; however, the NRC has the capacity to exceed this output.”
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