26 Jun 2025
Image description: A water pump with water pouring out as it is operated. Image by congerdesign from Pixabay Water abstraction surges to record levels An investigation into licensing data by Watershed Investigations and the Guardian found that the volume of water taken from rivers and lakes for industrial or public consumption in England, known […]
19 Jun 2025
Image by Jonathan Bean, Un In their new report National Framework for Water Resources 2025: water for growth, nature and a resilient future, the Environment Agency is warning that England faces a 5 billion litre a day shortage in our public water supplies by 2055 – unless urgent action is taken. The report, published […]
12 Jun 2025
Image description: Dry, cracked earth. Image by Yusuf Gündüz. National Drought Group to meet monthly The Environment Agency (EA) convened a National Drought Group meeting, following the driest spring since 1893. EA director of water, Helen Wakeham, announced the group, which is formed of the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, farmers, and experts, […]
05 Jun 2025
Image description: Aerial view of a reservoir. Image by Kelly / Pexels. Government gives two new reservoirs the go-ahead The Environment Secretary Steve Reed has seized control of the planning process to build two major reservoirs for the first time since the 1990s, in what the government is hailing as “a significant intervention to […]
10 Apr 2025
Image Description: Water treatment facility from a birds-eye view. Image by Tom Fisk. In a letter sent to water companies, Ofwat Chief Executive David Black has urged water companies to look into ways 30 major infrastructure projects can be delivered faster and more efficiently over the next 15 years. In reviewing their projects, Ofwat […]
06 Mar 2025
Currently, the UK as a whole uses about 14bn litres/day of water. According to the Environment Agency’s latest estimate, England will require around 5bn litres/day more water by 2050, meaning measures must be taken to reduce supply scarcity. Photo credit: Jonathan Bean Construction is about to begin on the UK’s first new reservoir […]
16 Jan 2025
The Guardian reports water shortage fears as Labour’s first AI growth zone is to be sited just seven miles from Abingdon reservoir planned for water-stressed south-east England. Labour’s first artificial intelligence growth zone will be sited close to the UK’s first new reservoir in 30 years, sparking fears that the AI push will add to […]
19 Jun 2024
Thames Water has opened its consultation on plans for SESRO (South East Strategic Reservoir Option) – a major new strategic reservoir in Oxfordshire. The proposals have been developed in conjunction with Southern Water and Affinity Water, as the reservoir is designed to secure future water supplies for all three company’s customers, a projected 15 million […]
