Waterbriefing: In an Expert Focus article Richard Leighton, Chief Engineer at Atkins, explores how to strengthen water resilience in the UK and how to overcome a number of engineering and chemical challenges. 

Richard Leighton:  In May of this year, OFWAT produced ‘Water 2020: our regulatory approach for water and wastewater services’, a report setting out its shared vision for the water sector across England and Wales. For me, there was a clear step change in the emphasis, with a commitment that the new regulatory approach would help secure a resilient future for water through a more efficient use of ‘scarce resource’ and the provision of essential services which are ‘resilient and can recover from shocks’.

Having worked for several decades on projects that were driven in part by the need to ensure resilience, I find it extremely encouraging that resilience is now high up on OFWAT’s and, Water UK’s agenda. OFWAT is seeking to address the impacts of climate change and population growth, by setting out its own road map for developing regulation. For example, it is reassuring to see that OFWAT is seeking to drive up-stream competition and break down barriers optimising the utilisation of scarce water resources. This will, for the first time, incentivise the transfer of water between companies. To read more click here.