The EA Launches National Framework for Water Resources

With our thoughts on World Water Day, the Environment Agency has just launched its National Framework for Water Resources. The framework highlights England’s long-term water needs between 2025 and 2050 and how these demands can be met at a sustainable level across all regions of the country.

What are the aims?

The framework examines reductions in water demand, improvements in water efficiency, development of new water supplies, and ways to transport water more efficiently. As well as this, it is keeping in line with the government’s 25 year environment plan which includes:

• leaving the environment in a better state than it is now
• improved resilience to drought
• minimising interruptions to water supplies

The Environment Agency hope to achieve this by creating five regional strategic plans which focus on addressing the needs of the environment, managing water supplies for people, businesses and other major users, and increasing resilience to drought. By focusing at regional levels, it is believed that individual pressures can be targeted and by stakeholders working together, techniques for efficient water usage across the country will be identified.

Why is it necessary?

Presently the average person uses 143 litres of water per day. If this continues to 2050 around an extra 3,435 million litres of water per day will be needed to keep up with public water demands. By 2050 per capita water use needs reducing to 110 litres per day to balance resource availability with public demand.

What do our experts think?

Our Chairperson James Dodds, a nationally recognised water management expert said, “This is a crucial document and I encourage everyone to read, digest and respond to it. Effective, balanced water management is difficult but will be essential as we move into our changing climate.”