With plans to build 1.5 million homes in the UK by 2029, pressure on water resources is growing and there is an urgent need to increase clean water and wastewater capacity. As the provider of an essential service to our customers, we know we play an important role in facilitating this growth and protecting the environment. 

Across the East of England, some areas of the networks are already at capacity due to significant population growth. As this shows no signs of slowing down, what are we doing to address the issue of capacity?  

Between 2025-2030, we’re planning to invest over £11billion into our region.  This will include initiating the development of building two new reservoirs, upgrading water treatment facilities, extending our strategic water supply pipeline by nearly 700km, and numerous nature-based solutions such as wetlands and sustainable urban drainage schemes. But we can’t solve the problem alone. Collaboration across organisations is crucial to facilitating growth across our region. By working with the Government and Local Authorities, we can address issues on a hyper-local level, improving overall water resources for our region.  

New Towns Taskforce 

We are passionate about supporting the Government’s ambitious house-building target and delivering sustainable growth for our region. However, the development of new towns in our region would mean growth above that in our investment plan.  

As a result, there is a risk that a new town could be proposed in an area which does not have the capacity to provide water services without increasing the risk of harm to the environment or communities from flooding and pollution incidents. To prevent this, we’re asking the Government to consider water and wastewater capacity as part of the New Town decision-making process. This will help to prevent issues such as water scarcity and disruption, and instead, enable water smart communities.  

Enabling Water Smart Communities 

A key objective of the Taskforce is to ensure that New Towns are ‘well-designed, sustainable and attractive places.’ With a third less rainfall, on average, than the rest of the country, Eastern England is classified as severely water stressed. Yet, as previously mentioned, demand for water is rapidly increasing. Unless urgent action is taken, the region will face severe water shortages. This is where water smart communities come in. 

A water smart community is a place where water is central to the design. Where people embrace the principles of water stewardship. Here they are empowered by assets and systems to use water wisely and with care for the environment. 

Working in partnership with organisations like Arup, Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and University of East Anglia we have developed the Enabling Smart Water Communities Project, which aims to bring together water management and sustainable housing. The innovations the group are developing focus on delivering water neutrality through Sustainable Drainage Schemes (SuDs) and water reuse schemes.  

By addressing the full water cycle, the project aims to combine innovation with infrastructure to support new developments and showcase what’s possible. This body of work should inform the New Towns Taskforce to ensure we are putting water at the heart of growth.  

Find out more about the project here.