August M
According to reporting from The Guardian, England’s water industry and its regulators are increasingly at odds over how the country will meet rising demand, with new research suggesting that flagship low-carbon projects could outstrip available water supplies within the decade.
The Guardian reports that a study funded by the water retailer Wave has warned that large-scale hydrogen and carbon-capture plans could overwhelm regional resources long before 2050.
The work, led by Prof Simon Mathias of Durham University, concluded that future decarbonisation projects may require up to 860 million litres of water a day.
Mathias told the publication that “deficits could emerge as early as 2030” in areas served by Anglian Water and United Utilities.
His team examined industrial clusters in Humberside, the northwest, the Tees Valley, the Solent and the Black Country to estimate how planned energy schemes might affect long-term water availability.
Wave said it commissioned the work because businesses lack the statutory protections households receive, leaving major industrial investments vulnerable to supply constraints.
Sector tensions
Anglian Water acknowledged that the projected deficit was at the upper end of its estimates, while United Utilities said the figures were “overstated” and that current planning already accounts for hydrogen-related demand.
The Guardian notes that water companies blamed regulatory limits for curbing future-proofing, with Anglian pointing to Ofwat’s restrictions on spending.
Water UK told the newspaper that reservoir plans approved after decades of delay do not reflect the government’s low-carbon targets. It said the Environment Agency’s forecasting does not factor in the water needs of hydrogen schemes.
Government stance
Ministers told The Guardian the UK is “rolling out hydrogen at scale,” insisting each project must demonstrate sustainable sourcing and meet strict legal protections.
They highlighted £104bn of private investment earmarked to cut leakage and build new reservoirs, along with £10.5bn for flood defences.
The Environment Agency has warned of the risk of a national water deficit by 2055 and has cautioned that England could face widespread drought next year without substantial winter rainfall.
