Broads SAC Sustainable Abstraction Work

Consultancy services are to be procured to support the Environment Agency with groundwater investigation, groundwater modelling, and interpretation and reporting of groundwater model results. These services are to be procured to support the Environment Agency with: • The ongoing Restoring Sustainable Abstraction (RSA) investigation for the Broads SAC • A catchment-wide review of time-limited abstraction licences for the Broads SAC. In order to continue with this work the proposed Direct Award is to be made through the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Framework, Lot 6: Environmental, Environmental and Sustainability Technical advisory services in support of construction related projects and programmes. Agreement ID: RM6165 The main aims of the project are to support the EA in the following: • To prioritise investigation of the Broadland sites within the Bure, Ant & Thurne catchments, followed by those within the Yare & Tas and Waveney catchments. o To determine the degree of historical impacts on RSA sites within the Broadlands area (See Table 1) and identification of those licensed groundwater abstractions deemed to be having an adverse effect on the integrity of said sites either individually or in combination with other licensed abstractions. • To run abstraction scenarios, as instructed by the EA, to determine a 'solution' which, when implemented, results in impacts that are deemed not to represent an adverse effect on the integrity of the sites.