Exploring opportunities for non-potable water reuse to secure future supplies 

 

Water supplies are already under significant pressure. While in the UK it may seem that we have abundant water resources - receiving more rainfall than other countries – historical assumptions about the availability of water are no longer valid.  

Changing weather patterns, a need to leave more water in the environment to restore nature, to hold more water to manage extreme droughts, and to use water to facilitate population and economic growth, mean we need to think differently. 

As demonstrated in the recently finalised set of regional water resources plans, in many parts of the UK, potable – which refers to water which is safe to drink - supply-demand balances are facing into the ‘jaws of death’.  

With many areas subject to limits on new non-domestic demands, alongside abstractions from the environment being curtailed, there is a risk to a lack of available water. Without alternatives, this could undermine industrial development and decarbonisation.  

 

Jaws of Death Diagram

 

We are going to need a wide range of solutions, at scale, to achieve long-term water security. This includes sources of water that have been less well developed in the UK. Although there are some good examples of process re-use in industry, widespread uptake remains limited in England and Wales. Re-use is already common in countries affected by frequent drought, such as Spain.  

We are exploring opportunities for non-potable water re-use, through an independent study commissioned by the National Framework for Water Resources. The non-potable re-use working group has been formed, of which we are a key member, alongside Water Resources East, South Staffordshire Water and Wessex Water.  


Together, we have worked to examine a wide range of sources, uses and users for recycled water, identifying barriers and the solutions required to overcome them, alongside recommendations for further exploration.  

The report is relevant to water companies seeking to facilitate sustainable water supplies, to organisations using and perhaps wanting to increase or change their sources of water, and to Government, regulators and other stakeholders involved in setting policies and supporting change.  


The working group’s findings will feed into development of the updated National Framework for Water Resources and its ongoing implementation, being led by the Environment Agency.