Navigating the Waters: A Call to Action for a Sustainable Future

Our Chair Alan Lovell spoke at the Waterwise annual conference this week. Here are some of the key highlights.??

In 2022, widespread droughts hit the UK, exposing the vulnerability of our water supplies to the effects of climate change, population growth, and regional shifts. The drought of 2022 was not an anomaly; it was a wake-up call, signalling the strain that these impending challenges would have on our water resources.??

We can no longer take water for granted; the next drought is imminent, and we must be prepared.?

We can also see the gap opening up between supply and demand - a gap which we now estimate could be in excess of 4.8 billion litres a day by 2050 unless we take strong action to make a difference.?

What’s causing this? We can pinpoint the three main causes of this shortfall: the effects of climate change, growth in the population of England from 58 to 69 million by 2050, (not affecting the total, but having severe regional impacts) and the movement of people to the south-east and south-west. ?

It is critical that we improve the nation’s water supply resilience so we can withstand the challenges posed by these three issues, as well as the need to protect and improve the environment.?

Over the past five years, significant strides have been made. Defra's Environmental Improvement Plan and Plan for Water, coupled with the Environment Agency's support, mark a growing policy landscape. But there is still further to go.?

Here’s three ways in which we’re addressing the 4.8 billion litres of water shortfall a day by increasing supply, reducing leakage, and managing demand.?

1. Increasing supply - improving infrastructure??

We’re collaborating with government and regulators to invest in new water resources infrastructure. Large strategic options have been kickstarted through the Regulatory Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development – or RAPID.? RAPID plays a crucial role in driving innovative water supply projects, such as Portsmouth Water’s new Havant Thicket reservoir, which is expected to be completed by around 2030. Alongside this, Defra has published the National Policy Statement for water resources infrastructure, to streamline planning processes and further enable delivery in the future.??

2. Reducing Leakage?

Around 2.8 billion litres of water per day was lost as leakage in 2022/23. The government has set a target of a 30% reduction by 2037. So far there has been approximately a 7% reduction based on Ofwat’s performance commitments since the start of the current Asset Management period. We need to see the water industry step up delivery. The challenge lies in building trust with customers and enhancing industry performance to meet leakage reduction goals.??

3. Managing Demand?

Water consumption varies around the country but overall, it’s too high everywhere. A lot of water is wasted often without realising the implications it may have. A slow trickle from a tap may not seem like much, but consider for a moment, that a few millilitres a second is over 10 litres an hour, that’s 240 litres a day. That’s just one tap.??

The good news is, there is a long list of measures that can help us tackle this. Here are some examples:??

• Government policies: appliance water efficiency labelling could save 1 billion litres of water.?
• Metering is key to being water efficient, ensuring people know how much water they are using and paying their fair share.??
• Harvesting rainwater: it was interesting what a good effect it had when South West Water gave people free water butts in 2022. A remarkable example of successful reuse of greywater can be seen in the Eddington project in Cambridge. The project is a whole new development northwest of Cambridge, an area notably facing a housing shortage. It covers 150 acres – the largest development in the history of the University of Cambridge. It’s being built with sustainability in mind – including the largest rainwater harvesting system in Europe, created by Cambridge Water, South Staffordshire Water, and the University. It will provide recycled rainwater to around 3,000 homes, plus academic and community facilities, to flush toilets, wash clothes, and water gardens. It will nearly halve the amount of fresh drinking water used per person, per day.?

How agriculture can help us solve supply and demand challenge?

As a sector, agriculture can make a bigger difference than we sometimes realise. We’ve seen many great examples of farmers using innovative techniques to reduce the need for water use and, in particular, abstraction. Projects like Felixstowe Hydrocycle and Wendling Beck Environment Project demonstrate sustainable approaches, reducing water needs which benefit both agriculture and the environment.?

Felixstowe Hydrocycle??

Each year, 1 billion litres of water from urban and agricultural drainage is pumped into the River Deben to protect agricultural land from flooding. Now six local farmers, supported by the EA, East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board and the University of East Anglia, have formed a new venture to increase the supply of freshwater for inland farms. Felixstowe Hydrocycle Ltd makes use of a new 7-mile pipeline, with pumping and storage system, which distributes water to farms where it can be stored in reservoirs.??

The capacity of the system will grow to meet the demands of the future. It’s a blueprint for how water can be better managed across East Anglia and the wider UK.???

You can hear more about the project by watching a video on our social media.

Wendling Beck Environment Project?

It’s a pioneering habitat creation, nature restoration and regenerative farming project covering 2,000 acres. There are many exciting aspects to this but one that struck me was that the use of sustainable environment- friendly techniques has already markedly improved soil quality. Water requirements on the blackcurrants that they grow have been reduced by 60% in just three years.?

You can read more about it here: Wendling Beck Environment Project – building financial and environmental resilience for farmers. - Creating a better place ( blog.gov.uk )

The looming 4.8 billion litres a day shortfall by 2050 is a daunting challenge, but the progress made and ongoing initiatives give us cause for optimism. Collaboration is key, and partnerships with water companies, government, regulators, and stakeholders are crucial. By embracing innovations and collectively addressing water security, we have the opportunity to escape the "Jaws of Death." Let us work together to build a sustainable water future for all.?