Adaptation to climate change
This briefing outlines the impacts of climate change upon water and how the UK water industry is addressing them.
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| Impacts | Water UK work | Research |
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| Companies | Case studies | What next? |
Introduction
Water is where many of the impacts of climate change will be felt first and most acutely. This puts the water industry at the forefront in adapting to a changing climate.
Water companies are well aware of the impacts, many of which are already affecting the services they provide. That is why companies have taken the initiative and have for many years been working to embed the effects into their long-term plans, based on the best available evidence and a wealth of research.
Continued adaptation is essential to maintain high levels of service.
Impacts of climate change on water
Climate change will impact all areas of the water industry – the quality and availability of water sources, the infrastructure vital to services, and the further treatment that will be required to meet quality standards. And of course we will see more frequent and severe droughts, flooding and weather events.
Impacts on water resources
• Water availability will be affected by changing weather patterns and we will need to build additional infrastructure, for example winter storage capacity.
• Reservoirs will be impacted in terms of operation, quantity, quality and structure.
• Demand for water is likely to increase.
Impacts on water infrastructure
• Pipe systems for both drinking water supply and sewerage will be more prone to cracking as climate changes lead to greater soil movement as a consequence of wetting and drying cycles.
• Assets on the coast or in flood plains (that covers most of them – networks, water and wastewater treatment works, pumping stations) will be at increased risk from flooding, storm damage, coastal erosion and rises in sea levels.
• Existing sewerage systems were not designed to take climate change into account. This means that more intense rainfall is likely to exceed the capacity of parts of the network and cause local flooding.
• Dams will be more prone to siltation resulting from increased soil erosion, and the slippage risk to soil dams from intense rainfall events will also increase.
Impacts on water treatment
• Lower river flows will reduce the dilution of wastewater effluent. We may need additional treatment to meet higher standards, which are likely to be achievable only by using energy-intensive processes, with all that means for greenhouse gas emissions.
• Colour and odour problems will result from higher temperatures and more intense rainfall events.
1. Water UK working for the industry
Water UK exists to identify, develop and implement policies for a sustainable water industry. Climate change adaptation is a key part of this work, with many areas of focus.
1.1. Framework for adaptation and asset managementWater UK has completed a project to provide a comprehensive checklist of the impacts of climate change and adaptation options. This sets out a common framework for use in water company asset management planning and is one of the reference tools that companies are using to highlight issues of adaptation. The tool is freely available from Water UK.
1.2. Climate Change Focus GroupThis group was established by Water UK in 2006 to develop common UK water industry positions on climate change and to elevate the profile of the industry in the climate change debate, both within the UK and throughout Europe. The group also enables members to share information, to discuss issues with key stakeholders and to recommend actions to be taken by Water UK, its members and other stakeholders.
1.3. Work in Europe to develop and promote climate change policyWater UK works closely with the European Commission in developing policy around adaptation and through Eureau, the pan-European association of water service providers, to share good practice and promote policies. The UK is closely involved in the Eureau Climate Change Task Force and is regarded as a leader in climate change adaptation.
1.4. Promotion of water efficiencyThe importance of water efficiency as an adaptation option is widely recognised across the water industry. Work has included the setting up and funding of the independent not-for-profit organisation Waterwise, active participation in all aspects of the ministerial-led Water Saving Group and facilitation of the industry Water Efficiency Network, a forum for sharing good practice and drinking water efficiency initiatives across the industry.
1.5. Work with regulatorsIn the water industry, the role of regulation is very important. Examples of engagement with key regulators include:
• regular strategic meetings on climate change with the economic regulator Ofwat
• development of a framework for resilience with Ofwat
• guidance on drainage standards for water companies
• development of climate change aspects of water resource planning guidelines with the Environment Agency
• inclusion of climate change in draft River Basin Management Plans for the Water Framework Directive
• making the link between water industry infrastructure and shoreline management plans by the Environment Agency
1.6. Review of the 2007 floodsWater UK commissioned its own industry review of the flooding that affected many parts of the UK in 2007. Phase 1 of this work was published in February 2008 and Phase 2 in July 2008. The report links closely with the government-commissioned Pitt Review and emphasises the need to ensure that the increased threat of extreme weather events and climate change are taken fully into account in flood risk management and protection of critical water infrastructure.
1.7. Reporting on sustainabilityWater UK produces an annual sustainability report on behalf of the industry. Climate change and levels of service are key criteria for measuring industry progress.
UKWIR (UK Water Industry Research) has already undertaken many projects related to climate change - as listed in the UKWIR reports catalogue. These include the relationship between climate change and:
• river flows
• groundwater levels and salinity
• reservoir flows and dam safety
• extreme rainfall events
• storm drainage
• water quality
• demand for water
• levels of service and customer satisfaction
• resilience of assets and infrastructure
UKWIR recently completed a project Towards a UK water industry strategic framework for adapting to climate change (UKWIR CL01) to develop a strategic research programme. This will allow the UK water industry to put in place a sustainable response to the need for adaptation and to develop a ‘one voice’ approach to underpin individual company strategies with the aims to:
• preserve (or improve) levels of service
• communicate effectively the issues, risks and opportunities of adaptation measures
• influence, where necessary, development of future regulation
Key areas for further UKWIR research will be:
• new climate scenarios (UKCIP08)
• strategic risks to infrastructure
• planning for cost-effective responses
• regulatory and asset risks
• dam and reservoir safety
• climate change and the customer
• climate and socio-economic changes
• underground assets
• implications for water treatment
• climate change and wastewater
• climate change and the regulatory framework
• carbon sequestration
• tools for managing climate change
3. Action by the water companies
3.1. Strategic direction and business planningAll companies in England and Wales identified climate change as a key challenge in their recently published Strategic Direction Statements (and separate but similar arrangements are in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland). These statements set the context and framework within which business plans will be developed and implemented. Plans for the 2009 periodic review of water prices (PR09) provide the detail around how climate change will be incorporated for the period 2010-15.
Case studies
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Anglian Water
Extending capacity |
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United Utilities
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3.2. Using best available informationAll companies already use the best available information (based on UKCIP 02 climate change scenarios) for key aspects of water resources and wastewater planning. Relevant UKWIR reports include Effect of climate change on river flows and groundwater recharge: a practical methodology (UKWIR 06/CL/04) and Climate change and the hydraulic design of sewerage systems (UKWIR CL/10). These reports are consistent with Environment Agency and Defra guidelines. Some companies have also worked with the Met Office and others to improve understanding of the impacts of climate change on their businesses, e.g. through changing rainfall patterns.
3.3. Water resource planningClimate change is explicitly taken into account in water resource management plans, which outline how each water company plans to ensure sustainable water supplies over the next 25 years. Many parts of the country are likely to see increased rainfall in winter and reduced water availability in summer. One solution to managing water resources efficiently throughout the year will be to ensure rainfall is captured in times of surplus for use in times of deficit. This will necessitate some increased water storage.
3.4. More efficient use of waterWater resource management plans also show how companies are planning for the potential impacts of reduced water availability, partly brought about by climate change, by taking significant steps to ensure the more efficient use of water. Measures include extended metering programmes, leakage management (including mains replacement) and further work on water efficiency, including education and awareness.
3.5. Increasing resilienceAll companies, particularly in light of the Pitt Review into the 2007 floods, are reviewing the susceptibility of key assets and infrastructure to extreme weather events. The need to move or replace assets affected by flooding and coastal realignment will also be addressed. Economic investment proposals are included in business plans for 2010-15 and beyond.
To deliver the vision of a sustainable water industry, well positioned to cope with and manage the impacts of climate change, the industry is looking towards:
4.1. Innovative solutions to adapt to climate changee.g. catchment/seasonal consenting, diffuse pollution source controls, and financial incentives for developers who provide surface run-off reduction measures.
4.2. Support for water company business plansThese draw attention to vital aspects of adaptation programmes, e.g. the need to protect critical infrastructure or ensure the safety of dams and reservoirs.
4.3. A common approach by regulators and the industryA common approach to climate change scenarios, planning assumptions and areas of the business where climate change impacts should be factored in, for both clean water and wastewater.
4.4. Further collaborative research Research into the impacts of climate change (to reduce uncertainty) and the adaptation options.
4.5. Improved understanding of public perceptions, Work to establish the optimal balance between levels of service, risk and adaptation costs.
4.6. Recognition by policy makers, regulators and othersof the links between adaptation and mitigatione.g. water/energy efficiency, sustainable drainage systems, catchment protection and management and the promotion of policies that do not potentially increase emissions
4.7. Collaborative and partnership workinge.g. the biggest risk to water services is loss of power, so the industry needs to work with power suppliers on cross-sector resilience; innovative solutions need new alliances and ways of working, e.g. catchment management, source controls etc.
Climate change will have diverse and profound consequences across many areas of society. The water sector is particularly vulnerable and is where many of the impacts will be felt first and most severely.
The industry has made a good start in preparing and planning for these impacts, but adaptation is an ongoing process and will require continued or increased emphasis and action involving a range of organisations.
Water UK
December 2008
