Water regulator Ofwat has given backing for 15 projects to progress further, as it encourages the water sector to find long-term solutions to make sure the taps can keep running in England and Wales.
This programme is being overseen by the Regulators Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID), made up of Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate, with support from CCW, Natural England and Natural Resources Wales.
Paul Hickey, RAPID Managing Director, commented on the announcement: “Making sure the water sector is prepared and planning for our changing climate is essential.
“Ofwat’s approach of allowing nearly £500m of funding to find innovative and effective solutions, and doing so with real collaboration across companies and regulators, is a landmark shift and could unlock meaningful innovation and secure services for customers of the future and protect the natural environment.
“We have to find new and sustainable ways to keep the taps running. We will continue to collaborate to find the right solutions so the water sector delivers in the face of the climate emergency.
“The collaboration across all parties has worked well during this assessment process and we’re happy that the partnership is making good progress.”
The 15 proposals, which include making greater use of canals and creating new reservoirs, so water is captured and moved to where it is needed, will now proceed to the next stage of development and scrutiny.
Progress will next be assessed at gate two in October 2022 to determine whether they should continue to receive additional support.
The gated process is intended to support companies in progressing solutions to be ‘construction-ready’ for the 2025-2030 period.
The draft decisions to progress these 15 proposed solutions are now open for representations and there will be further opportunities for stakeholders to comment as the plans progress. The representation period will close at 5pm on 8th of October 2021.
Ofwat will publish its final decisions on 16th of November 2021.
More information on the Gate one submissions and draft decisions and how to respond is available on the Ofwat website.
Infographics of the 15 solutions can also be found on the Ofwat website.
