Water scarcity is becoming an increasing problem in the UK, impacting both domestic homes and businesses of all kinds.
Challenges of climate change and extreme weather have impacted the availability of drinking water. Drought and shortages, and conversely, flooding, have all been regular headlines in the last few years.
What Is Water Supply Resilience?
Resilience is vital for business continuity in any sector and its ability to recover from setbacks, changes and market stresses.
For water supply, resilience is also about how the supply responds to change and adversity.
Challenges to water supply can take the form of environmental conditions, increased demand or pollution. A safe water supply needs to be reliable regardless of drought, floods and other impacting factors.
How Does Water Supply Resilience Impact Businesses?
Water is used in many of the UK’s industries. Food manufacturing and processing, industrial manufacturing and construction all use water as a raw material.
Cooling systems for data centres and hydrogen production both require huge volumes of water; however, they can use non-potable water as an alternative.
For these organisations, an interruption in supply can mean work stoppages, substantial financial losses and potential losses for both their staff and their clients.
Drinking water, also called potable water, is used for hygiene in every sector: hospitals, schools, offices, workplaces, restaurants and community facilities all need drinking water.
The Health & Safety Executive requires workplaces to have welfare facilities that include access to drinking water, toilets and wash basins.
Without adequate facilities, a workplace can be shut down, either permanently or until the issue is resolved.
What Will The Government Do About Water Shortages?
With a predicted deficit estimated at almost five billion litres of water a day by 2050, the fear of long-term water shortages has prompted the Environment Agency to take action.
A new national framework for water resources sets out the needs for the country’s water resources and what actions are needed to prevent interruptions to supply in the future.
Key focus points are:
- Improving water resource resilience through new infrastructure investment
- Reducing leaks – by repairing or replacing pipelines – caused by ageing networks and freezing temperatures during harsh winters
- Installing smart meters and encouraging customers to be more efficient in their water use. A reduced demand on the network means fewer shortages
- Finding ways for commercial consumers to use recycled and non-potable water
- Managing and regulating suppliers for the water market
How Can New Investment Help Prevent Water Shortages?
One way is to look at how infrastructure is managed, for example, reservoirs, pipe networks, pumping stations and treatment plants.
Plans include a multi-billion pound investment in water supply resilience as part of the UK government’s approach to water policy. It will be overseen by Ofwat, the regulator for England and Wales, and is expected to be completed over the next 15 years.
Part of this is a privately-funded £104 million investment in the water sector. This money will go toward streamlining infrastructure development.
How Will Improving Water Networks Help With Supply?
Included in the reforms is a strategic approach to regional water planning. That means working to improve existing pipe networks and adding more.
Almost 60 per cent of water mains in the UK were built before 1981 and approximately 13 per cent are over 100 years old. ‘Furring’ and corrosion cause a reduction in pressure and water quality in older pipes.
The capacity of old pipe networks cannot keep up with the current demands of the UK’s population and businesses. They need to be replaced with large-bore pipe and new sections added, particularly in areas where water scarcity is an urgent issue.
Older pipes are also more prone to leaking. An investment of £700m is planned to reduce leakage, with an aim to halve the network’s water loss by 2050.
The idea of moving water from a wet area to a drier area is not a new one, but it can help ensure a more reliable supply. Essentially, it involves expanding the networks of pipes, treatment plans and reservoirs.
A section of the new pipeline was recently completed between Ipswich and Colchester to help improve water supply resilience.
It is the first part of a bigger pipeline investment designed to reduce the burden of water scarcity on businesses and communities in the East of England.
How Could Water Shortages Impact The Economy?
Without continued investment in water resilience, it is expected that water shortages and supply interruptions could put a £25 billion dent in the UK economy.
Even for businesses that are not heavily reliant on water for manufacturing, the knock-on effects are cause for concern.
Businesses can already switch business water suppliers based on tariffs and customer service. When interruptions or shortages cost time and money, it is worth also considering the reliability of the water supply in your area.
While no one can predict the future, businesses can now choose a water supplier that is investing in network infrastructure and water source resilience.
