The Freshwater Emergency: From Scarcity to Abundance

By 2050, England faces a potential water shortage of nearly five billion litres per day if no action is taken.

This figure is alarming.

Today’s Rivers Summit brought key industry stakeholders together to address the critical state of our rivers and the actions needed to ensure their future.

I was honoured to participate and shed light on the work we are doing to support this.

The Environment Agency’s role and vision

As the Environment Agency, we are committed to being an authoritative voice on water management. Our mission is to regulate and support the water industry to ensure the protection and sustainable use of our precious water resources both now and in the future.

We welcome progressive thinking on improving water management and recognise that our approach must adapt and evolve to meet the growing challenges posed by climate change and population growth. We are willing to learn more about our stakeholder’s data collection methods, with a view to improving our own understanding of the water environment.

Addressing drought and water scarcity

To address England’s potential water shortages, we are actively promoting and supporting innovative solutions through our Water Framework Directive Regulations and Water Resource Management Plans. These initiatives are designed to improve water efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure that water companies are investing in sustainable solutions.

Water companies are investing in solutions, but everyone needs to use water wisely. We know water companies are proposing ambitious demand management reductions. This comes with significant risks, and failure to achieve these reductions could lead to increased water scarcity.

Enhancing Water Quality and Reducing Pollution

Today’s freshwater emergency is underscored by alarming statistics: only 14% of rivers have good ecological status and 0% have good chemical status. Agriculture (40%), the wider water industry (36%), and urban run-off and transport (18%) are the main contributors to failing water quality, while storm overflows account for 7%.

Over 100,000 water samples are taken annually to monitor and assess water quality, chemicals, and ecology. This data is critical for diagnosing issues and guiding our regulatory actions. We are implementing the most significant regulatory transformation programme in our history, which includes:

-????????? expanding our specialised workforce

-????????? quadrupling water company inspections

-????????? ?increasing compliance checks

-????????? leveraging new data and intelligence tools.

We will also increase our presence at all serious and significant water pollution incidents (categories 1 and 2) in 2024/25.

Water Demand and Management

We are prioritising demand management to secure environmental protection. This involves driving positive performance across water companies through regulatory processes and advising the government on water demand to underpin decision-making.

Efficiency and Waste Reduction

Water companies are investing in solutions, but everyone needs to use water wisely. We can be much smarter with water. ?Addressing leaks and using water more efficiently in homes and businesses can save millions of litres of water daily. Empowering customers to contribute to water conservation is essential.

Accountability and Regulation

We will always seek to hold those responsible for environmental harm accountable. Our enhanced regulatory measures are designed to ensure water company compliance and protect our water resources.

The Path Forward

The challenges we face are significant, but so are the opportunities. The 2022 drought and subsequent high water demand highlighted the urgency of our mission. Demand reduction is central to both short-term and long-term supply resilience. Achieving ambitious demand management targets is crucial to preventing increased water scarcity.

We are working with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to better understand the link between water quality and health impacts. Increased monitoring of inland bathing waters will provide deeper insights. We are also addressing misconceptions and improving water regulation through increased inspections and digital tools.

Government initiatives, such as the Statutory Water Demand target in the Environment Act and the forthcoming ￡100M Water Efficiency Fund from Ofwat, provide a solid foundation for driving water efficiency across the country. Additionally, smart water metering will be instrumental in reducing waste and managing water resources more effectively.

We welcome new approaches to understanding the health of our rivers for both ecology and people. Learning more about our stakeholders' data collection methods can improve our understanding of the water environment. We continue to take tough action against polluters and work closely with the agriculture sector, water companies, and local communities to ensure the safest bathing waters for people.

Leading the charge

As we reflect on the outcomes of the 2024 Rivers Summit, it is clear that the future of our rivers depends on collective action and innovation. We are dedicated to leading this charge, working collaboratively with water companies, the government, and the public to ensure a sustainable water future for England. We must seize this opportunity to transform the state of our rivers from scarcity to abundance.

Together, we can secure a healthier, more resilient water environment for future generations to come.