Policy paper

How government are building resilient water supplies

Published 4 October 2019

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

This policy paper was withdrawn on

This document is superseded by Meeting our future water needs: a national framework for water resources.

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2019

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-resilient-water-supplies/how-government-are-building-resilient-water-supplies

In its 25 year environment plan government have pledged to:

  • improve resilience to drought
  • minimise interruption to water supplies

The Environment Agency are leading on creating a water resources national framework. They will complete the work by December 2019.

In August 2018 water companies received a joint letter from:

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
  • Environment Agency
  • Ofwat
  • Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI)

The letter set out what is needed to build resilient water supplies, including:

  • how government and regulators are joining up to give clear direction to water companies
  • how water companies and other large water users should plan regionally to identify the best solutions for a region and the nation as a whole – they should not just plan for their own company boundaries
  • how government and regulators will provide a responsive regulatory approach – this will support regional and national planning by dealing with issues and barriers as they arise

1. Clear, joined up direction to water companies

The water resources national framework will model the water needs of the nation to 2045 and beyond. It will set out an assessment to:

  • show potential strategic solutions, for example water transfers, new sources of supply
  • plan how to tackle water leakage and demand
  • indicate what the water demands are from other water users and the needs of the environment
  • identify and address barriers to working together
  • set the challenge for each regional group to address in its plan

2. Regional water resources planning

Five regional groups have been set up that cover England. They are led by water companies and include other water users. The groups are:

  • water resources south east
  • water resources east
  • water resources north
  • water resources west
  • west country water resources

Having regional groups is vital. Addressing the challenges set out in the national framework will require a coordinated approach. Each regional group will:

  • engage across their regional boundaries and across different sectors
  • identify the best solutions for their region and for the nation as a whole
  • use their findings to inform the next water company water resource management plans (WRMPs) – the draft plans will be published in 2022

It’s likely that the groups will identify the need for new nationally significant infrastructure.

Ofwat will provide a fund for the water companies to develop options. This will enable them to:

  • evaluate a number of options in depth
  • ensure each option is appraised consistently

This level of information will allow full assessment of any nationally strategic infrastructure identified. Therefore the best solution can be taken forward.

3. Responsive regulatory approach

Ofwat is leading on developing a regulators’ alliance for progressing infrastructure development (RAPID). The Environment Agency and DWI are active partners in RAPID.

RAPID will:

  • oversee the portfolio of strategic schemes
  • identify any barriers to working together on developing strategic solutions
  • remove these barriers to ensure the aims of the national framework are acted on

4. Next steps

The next water company WRMPs will include the identified solutions.

The Secretary of State approves the WRMPs. Once approved, the developments that qualify as nationally significant will be processed as set out in the draft National Policy Statement.

Working together regionally and nationally will:

  • increase the resilience of water supplies
  • improve the environment
  • be an efficient way of working and so provide value for customers
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