Mott MacDonald has been appointed to carry out a transformative project for Water UK on the resilience of UK water supplies, in collaboration with partners Atkins and Nera Economic Consulting.
The project, called Water Resources – Planning for the Long-term, will provide a long-term planning framework to shape water resourcing strategy in the UK for at least the next 50 years. It will also seek to strengthen the resilience of water supplies while protecting the environment.
Significant challenges and uncertainties, such as an increasing population and changing economy and climate, will put significant pressure on water resources and require innovative solutions to balance the supply and demand for water. Mott MacDonald and its partners will seek to understand whether there are better ways to allow for uncertainty and risk in water resource and drought planning.
Mott MacDonald is a recognised thought leader in the UK water industry and understands the challenges faced by individual water companies, the government and regulators. The consultancy will use this expertise to support the sector in its desire to develop new approaches to water resource management.
David Thomas, manager of Mott MacDonald's water business, said: “Customers and policymakers are increasingly asking if and how we can maintain current standards of water use in the context of growing populations and the uncertainties of climate change. We are pleased to be a part of this project which will consider whether we need a more radical strategy for using and managing water resources.”
The report is scheduled to be delivered in the summer of 2016.