From waterbriefing

Five regional water resource groups have published their Emerging Regional Water Resource Plans, setting out how they propose to address a predicted water deficit for England of 3,435 million litres per day (Ml/d) megalitres by 2050.

The estimate is set out in the national framework for water resources paper Understanding England’s future water needs at 2050 published by the Environment Agency in 2020.

The national framework sets out a strategic direction for the work being carried out by the regional water resources groups by exploring the range of approaches available to meet the likely pressures.

The framework is specifically focussed on the regional plans that will be developed over the coming years by the five groups.

According to the Environment Agency, if no action is taken between 2025 and 2050 around 3,435 million extra litres of water per day will be needed for public water supply. This includes:

• 1,150 Ml/d to make water supplies more resilient to drought
• 1,040 Ml/d to supply the growing population
• 720 Ml/d to replace unsustainable abstractions and improve the environment
• 400 Ml/d to address the impact of climate change on water availability – water companies have also allowed for 640 Ml/d in their plans to 2025 which is before the start date for this analysis

South East England requires around 50% of the national public water supply need

Pointing out that the south east of England requires around 50% of the national public water supply need, the paper also sets out the following estimated additional public water supply needs between 2025 and 2050 for England by region:

Water Resources West

The estimated additional public water supply needs between 2025 and 2050 are 639 Ml/d:

• 237 Ml/d for population change
• 167 Ml/d for drought resilience
• 167 Ml/d for environmental improvement
• 68 Ml/d for climate change

The estimated total demand from other users is 283 Ml/d:

• 59% for industry – chemicals, paper and pulp
• 27% for agriculture – spray irrigation
• 12% for power generation

West Country Water Resources

The estimated additional public water supply needs between 2025 and 2050 are 227 Ml/d:

• 86 Ml/d for population change
• 71 Ml/d for drought resilience
• 47 Ml/d for environmental improvement
• 11 Ml/d for climate change
• 12 Ml/d for other needs

The estimated total demand from other users is 193 Ml/d:

• 63% for industry – manufacturing mineral products
• 23% for agriculture – livestock and spray irrigation

Water Resources North

The estimated additional public water supply needs between 2025 and 2050 are 233 Ml/d:

• 132 Ml/d for climate change
• 60 Ml/d for population change
• 41 Ml/d for drought resilience

The estimated total demand from other users is 192 Ml/d:

• 38% for power generation
• 33% for industry – extracting minerals and materials, navigation, food and drink, paper and pulp
• 23% for agriculture – spray irrigation

Water Resources East

The estimated additional public water supply needs between 2025 and 2050 are 570 Ml/d:

• 226 Ml/d for drought resilience
• 193 Ml/d for population change
• 76 Ml/d for climate change
• 75 Ml/d for environmental improvement

The estimated total demand from other users is 444 Ml/d:

• 64% for agriculture – spray irrigation
• 17% for power generation
• 14% for industry – food and drink, paper and pulp

Water Resources South East

The estimated additional public water supply needs between 2025 and 2050 are 1765 Ml/d:

• 640 Ml/d for drought resilience
• 459 Ml/d for population change
• 431Ml/d for environmental improvement
• 111 Ml/d for climate change
• 124 Ml/d for other needs

The estimated total demand from other users is 175 Ml/d:

• 30% for agriculture – spray irrigation
• 32% for industry – paper and pulp, golf courses
• 20% for power generation