The Freshwater Emergency - From Scarcity to Abundance

This panel, moderated by James Wallace of River Action UK, convened to address an increasingly pressing issue: the UK’s freshwater emergency. With growing concerns over water scarcity, pollution, and the degradation of ecosystems like chalk streams, the session brought together experts to examine both the roots of the crisis and potential solutions.

The discussion featured a diverse group of voices, including investigative journalist Helena Horton, environmental campaigner Feargal Sharkey, Environment Agency Chief Executive Philip Duffy, Southern Water CEO Lawrence Godson, and British Water CEO Lila Thompson.

Key themes included the critical need for infrastructure investments, such as reservoirs and nature-based solutions, and the challenges posed by outdated regulatory frameworks and insufficient long-term planning. Panellists emphasised the importance of rebuilding public trust in water companies and regulators, advocating for greater transparency, accountability, and collaboration across all sectors.

From the systemic failures of the past to innovative solutions for the future, the session underscored that resolving the UK’s freshwater crisis requires unified action, bold leadership, and an immediate commitment to protecting water resources and the environment.

Helena Horton (Investigative Journalist, The Guardian)

• Scope of the Crisis:

• the UK faces a water deficit of nearly 5 billion litres daily by 2050, roughly a third of the current supply.

• Past droughts, such as in 2022, highlighted the severity of the issue, with measures like hosepipe bans and discussions about banning activities like filling swimming pools.

• Climate breakdown contributes to erratic weather patterns (prolonged droughts and deluges).

• Structural Issues:

• No major reservoirs have been built in decades, exacerbating supply problems.

• Public focus is often unfairly placed on consumer behaviour rather than systemic issues like infrastructure and governance.

Feargal Sharkey (Activist, Angler, and Environmentalist)

• State of Chalk Streams:

• Most are ecologically failing due to over-abstraction and pollution from agriculture and water industries.

• Criticism of Leadership:

• Governments and regulators have demonstrated a historical lack of leadership and strategic planning since as far back as the 1960s.

• Warns against reliance on unrealistic solutions, such as expecting substantial behavioural changes from consumers or dramatic reductions in leakage, given the lack of progress in the past 33 years.

• Urgent Call for Action:

• Questions the Environment Agency's timeline for revoking abstraction licenses, stressing that some chalk streams may not survive another 25 years without immediate action.

Philip Duffy (Chief Executive, Environment Agency)

• Breakdown of Challenges:

• Climate change, population growth, and environmental regulations require a significant reduction in water usage and improved infrastructure.

• Highlighted the potential for chalk streams to run dry for months without intervention.

• Regulatory Plans:

• Water companies have submitted water resource management plans, including reservoirs and water transfer systems, but scepticism exists about consumer behaviour changes reducing demand.

• Need for Transparency and Accountability:

• Advocates for publishing comprehensive environmental data to rebuild public trust.

• Believes a cultural shift is necessary within water companies to prioritize environmental outcomes over just meeting regulatory permits.

Lawrence Godson (CEO, Southern Water)

• Company Initiatives:

• Reduced water abstraction by focusing on demand-side measures such as metering and leakage control.

• Currently building a major reservoir (Havant Thicket) and exploring water recycling plants to address supply issues sustainably.

• Barriers:

• Emphasized that systemic regulatory and planning challenges hinder timely construction of reservoirs (20 years for a single reservoir, 15 years of which is planning).

• Acknowledges the historical failures of water companies but highlights a turnaround plan to rebuild trust and address environmental needs holistically.

Lila Thompson (CEO of British Water)

• Supply Chain Challenges:

• The water sector suffers from a severe skills shortage, requiring a 50% workforce increase and attracting diverse talent.

• Five-year regulatory cycles are inadequate for long-term planning, and she calls for 10-25 year frameworks.

• Collaboration:

• Advocates for collective responsibility across the sector, including government, water companies, and NGOs.

• Encourages sharing of solutions and innovations within the sector to tackle leakage and implement nature-based solutions.