With the UK experiencing record-breaking heat, Anglian Water is set to invest nearly £1.5 billion in water infrastructure, marking its largest investment to date. This announcement comes two years after the UK’s hottest summer on record, which saw temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius in parts of Lincolnshire.
The latest State of the Climate report from the Met Office highlights an alarming increase in temperature extremes in the UK, with ‘hot’ days (28°C) more than doubling and ‘very hot’ days (30°C) more than tripling over the past decade compared to the 1960s and 1990s.
Anglian Water’s proposed investment aims to address these growing challenges and is currently under review by its regulator, Ofwat. The funding is essential for upgrading the infrastructure necessary to support the East of England’s development and future growth.
Geoff Darch, Head of Supply and Demand Strategy at Anglian Water, noted: “This level of investment is unprecedented since the infrastructure revolution 200 years ago. Our goal remains to support housing and economic growth by ensuring a reliable water supply as extreme weather becomes more frequent. Without this investment, the East could face a daily water deficit of 593 million liters by 2050.”
Immediate measures include expanding the strategic pipeline network and preparing for two new reservoirs in the region. Anglian Water’s flagship strategic pipeline project is already in progress and represents the largest water infrastructure project in a generation. Once completed, it will span hundreds of kilometers and enhance the flexibility of water distribution across the region, surpassing the length of the M1 motorway.
Additionally, plans for two new reservoirs—one in the Fens and another in Lincolnshire—will provide water to approximately 750,000 homes by the end of the next decade.
Darch added: “While we are not facing hosepipe bans this year, the changing climate suggests that severe droughts and major flooding will become more frequent. Our long-term planning has always anticipated these changes. We managed to avoid hosepipe bans two summers ago by planning ahead, and we need to maintain this proactive approach to prepare for future challenges.”
He emphasized the importance of securing the necessary investment to ensure a sustainable water supply for the increasing population and economic growth in the region. “Investing in resilience now means we’ll be prepared to capture and store water during plentiful periods and conserve it for drier times,” Darch concluded.
