Respecting our environment

Our Environmental Principles

Kelda Group Ltd recognises that the long term viability of our water and sewerage business is dependent on sustainable operations. We believe sustainable operations are those that drive efficient resource use and provide a healthy environment, which in turn facilitates social progress and economic growth. As a company we therefore strive to act as responsible stewards of the environment and commit to continual improvement.

To balance these challenging needs we are committed to efficient and effective practices. We recognise that sustainability is the collective responsibility of governments, businesses, individuals and communities and so work in partnership with our stakeholders to pursue this goal.

Corporate Commitments

In pursuit of these principles, Kelda Group Ltd has committed itself to the following:

• Achieve and maintain compliance with the environmental legislation in the country of operation of each of our subsidiaries and associated companies. Where no regulations exist, implement challenging company standards. Through the application of our Environmental Management System (EMS) all Yorkshire Water and Kelda Water Services (KWS) Companies understand and fully comply with the legislative requirements of all countries of operation/
• Continue to prevent and where practicable reduce pollution loads entering the environment. All KWS and YW EMS' contain robust procedures for managing pollution.
• Seek to use materials efficiently, and promote the application of the waste hierarchy. Innovative approaches are taken to the promotion of recycling, avoidance of landfill etc such as the generation of energy from sludge using Anaerobic Digestion.
• Encourage and facilitate the interchange of environmental technology throughout the Group and promote good practice. Central resources are utilised to draw out examples of innovative environmental technology and good practice, and disseminate this throughout the whole of the Kelda Group, eg the use of thermal hydrolysis in Aberdeen as part of the Anaerobic Digestion facility.
• Conserve and enhance biodiversity wherever practicable or required, through efficient and effective practices. Yorkshire Water has in place a world class biodiversity tool and a nature reserve has been created from disused opoerational land associated with our project in Northern Ireland.
• Manage our land holdings in a responsible manner and provide sustainable access. Yorkshire Water's Land and Planning Team activities seek to maintain and enhance our operational land for the benefit of our customers. We also work with our land tenants to ensure they understand their responsibilities as prudent operators.
• Develop our employees awareness of environmental issues including this policy. All employees throughout the Kelda Group are provided with environmental awareness training as part of induction; this is annually refreshed.
• Foster productive partnerships with our stakeholder groups. We enjoy productive relationships with all stakeholder groups, including groups such as the Angler's Association, RSPB, Forestry Commission and EA (SEPA & NIEA), who have a vested interest in our activities.
• Take an active and positive role in the community. Examples include Yorkshire Water's Environmental Advisory Panel and various residents associations interested in our operations in Scotland.

The policy applies to all companies in which Kelda Group Ltd has a controlling interest. These companies will adapt this policy, and we will encourage them to translate it into appropriate objectives and targets. We will also encourage all other companies in which we have an interest as either a shareholder or through our supply chain, to implement this policy, or an equivalent.

The policy will be periodically reviewed in light of new knowledge, changing legislation, public concerns and the views of our Advisory Panels. We will report our environmental performance via our website on a regular basis.

Key publications

Yorkshire Water Services Ltd Annual Report (Year ended 31 March 2012)
(PDF, 13.3MB)

Kelda Holdco Ltd Annual Report (Year ended 31 March 2012)
(PDF, 1.6MB)