EA warns 'urgent action' needed to protect the supply of water
Between 2030 and 2055, the West Country will need an additional 260 megalitres a day
The Environment Agency is warning that England faces a 5 billion litre a day shortage in our public water supplies by 2055 - unless urgent action is taken.
We're told there'll be a further 1 billion litre a day deficit for wider economy - and it's all because of pressures driven by climate change, growing population, emerging technologies and the need to protect environment.
This is despite £8 billion having already been pledged by water firms over the next five years.
The report, published every five years, sets out the actions required by water companies, regulators, businesses, and the public to best manage water usage into the future.
The Environment Agency expects 60% of this deficit to be addressed by water companies managing demand and dramatically reducing leaks. The remaining 40% would come from boosting supply, including the building of new reservoirs and water transfer schemes.
The government has secured £104 billion in private sector spending in water company infrastructure over the next five years, including £8 billion committed to boost water supply and manage demand.
Challenges faced across the West Country
Between 2030 and 2055, the West Country will need an additional 260 megalitres a day (Ml/d) for:
- Drought resilience: 5 Ml/d
- Population change: 85 Ml/d
- Environmental improvements: 182 Ml/d
- Climate change: 20 Ml/d
- An additional 222 Ml/d will be required for industry (such as food and drink production, metal production, chemicals industry), agriculture and power generation
The EA say that regional planning is driving 'positive change' in the West Country.
Water companies are working with industries and regulators to share knowledge and take a long-term view of water resources planning through the West Country Water & Environment group.
It's undertaking three flagship projects including new reservoirs in Cheddar and the Mendip Hills, and a water recycling and transfer scheme in Poole.
RAPID (Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) has also been formed by regulators Environment Agency, Ofwat and the DWI (Drinking Water Inspectorate) to accelerate the development of large infrastructure projects.
Recommendations for the future
The Environment Agency has made further recommendations and actions:
- Leakage: The Environment Agency will continue to work with financial regulator Ofwat on water company pledges to cut leakage by 17% in the next five years and by 50% by 2050
- Smart meters: Water companies have committed to the vital rollout of ten million more smart meters to help customers understand how much they use – and reveal where wastage may be in their homes and businesses. The average person on a meter uses 122 litres per day, compared to 171 litres without
- Efficiency labelling: Household appliances, such as dishwashers, toilets, and showers, can be more efficient and the Environment Agency will continue to work with Government on a mandatory efficiency labelling scheme
- Infrastructure: Water company plans includes nine new desalination schemes, 10 new reservoirs and seven new water recycling schemes by 2050
Environment Agency Chair, Alan Lovell, said: “The nation’s water resources are under huge and steadily increasing pressure.
“This deficit threatens not only the water from your tap but also economic growth and food production. Taking water unsustainably from the environment will have a disastrous impact on our rivers and wildlife.
“We need to tackle these challenges head-on and strengthen work on co-ordinated action to preserve this precious resource and our current way of life.”
'Unprecedented pressures'
Ofwat Chief Executive, David Black, said: “We recognise the unprecedented pressures on our water resources and the ambition to further cut abstraction to improve river health, which we strongly support. This is why we announced £8bn of funding at Price Review 2024 to deliver the required action across the sector to secure our future water supplies.
“Boosting supply through building critical water infrastructure is essential to safeguard supplies of drinking water. The way is now clear for the water industry to build on the success of the recently opened £5 billion Thames Tideway project by stepping forward to deliver an expanded pipeline of 30 major projects which we need in England and Wales."
There are also small steps the general public can take. These include:
- Shortening showers
- Turning off taps when brushing teeth
- Using full loads for washing machines and dishwashers
- Collecting rainwater for garden use
- Deleting old emails to reduce pressure on data centre servers