Read the July 2024 Newsletter

Welcome to the sixth issue of Water Resources East’s quarterly newsletter – the latest developments in water resources and integrated water management taking place across the Eastern region.
So much to cover, so little space! Now that the General Election has delivered a new government we look forward to incoming ministers taking forward some of the policy initiatives that had to be put ‘on ice’ during the pre-election period. The list is both long and important: water efficiency labelling, water efficiency standards in new homes, changes to drinking water regulations to allow recycled water to be supplied to homes for non-potable uses, and new water fittings regulations to improve the design and testing of toilets to avoid ‘leaky loos’. We also hope that Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 will finally be commenced to require sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in new development, which could also unlock local reuse opportunities. The work of the Cambridge Water Scarcity Group is already getting back underway.

The election also postponed publication of Ofwat’s Draft Determinations on water company business plans. Now that they’re out, we can assess whether Ofwat’s proposed decisions on funding and incentives support delivery of our Regional Plan. In short, yes and no – whilst there is positive support for key schemes like the Fens and Lincolnshire Reservoirs, and to develop plans for a desalination plant at Bacton and water reuse schemes at Colchester and Lowestoft, funding for other schemes including for demand management could be cut back. WRE will write to Ofwat to try to influence their Final Determinations due in December.

The WRE team has been out and about over the past few months meeting with stakeholders and engaging with them on our shared priorities. In June we hosted CEOs of the wildlife trusts in East Anglia, relevant The Wildlife Trusts national leads and representatives of Norfolk County Council, Anglian Water and the Association of Drainage Authorities at the Gressenhall Museum near Dereham to discuss potential joint work on nature-based solutions. The team also visited Spains Hall Estate in Essex to hear how their work to restore natural processes and engage in nature markets is transforming their business model and delivering for the environment. The Fens Water Partnership chaired and organised by WRE met earlier this month at WWT Welney to discuss the Fens Reservoir public consultation proposals, and then to hear about WWT’s success in increasing numbers of corncrakes and black-tailed godwits in the Ouse Washes. The South Lincs Water Partnership also met near Boston this month to discuss opportunities for sharing water for agriculture as part of integrated water management approaches to the Lincolnshire Reservoir’s system design.

Whilst the summer will allow the team some down-time after another busy few months, we look forward to re-engaging with government and regulators post-election on our policy priorities, taking forward the studies that will underpin our next Regional Plan, and moving our NbS trials in Norfolk and the Cam toward the delivery phase.

Daniel Johns, Managing Director