This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with Evides UK.
The UK’s new National Framework for Water Resources 2025 lays the groundwork for a sustainable water future. The implications for industry are much closer scrutiny of water use and the need to upgrade and improve water systems or face the consequences of restricted water supply.
Evides has produced a briefing paper on the UK’s newly published water framework, highlighting the importance for UK industry to understand and prepare for a future where water is less readily available than today.
The National Framework for Water Resources 2025, published by the UK Environment Agency in June, explores the measures needed to ensure a long-term sustainable water supply in the UK, given an increasing population, climate change and environmental challenges. The current trajectory of water use is unsustainable, with a shortfall of 5 billion litres a day in public water supplies anticipated by 2055.
The Evides paper, “Implications for Industry: National Framework for Water Resources 2025”, summarises the likely changes for industrial users, from reform of abstraction licensing to increasing demands to optimise processes, introduce water reuse and recycling and provide transparent accountability through smart metering and monitoring.
Likely sector-specific measures are outlined, with big water users such as power, agriculture, data centres and new industries subject to particular scrutiny and oversight.
Colin Robinson, UK Business Manager for Evides, says: “In the past, water use was not a huge concern for industry and requests for an increased supply were rarely refused. This is changing and, in the near future, not only will industrial companies have to minimise water use through upgraded systems and recycling, they will also have to prove to the authorities that they have done as much as they can to optimise water use. This issue is not going to go away, and the time to understand and engage with the changes is now.”
To download a copy of this briefing paper, visit: www.evidesdbfo.co.uk
