Separate reports on Britain’s readiness to cope with water supply issues in a time of housing growth and climate change suggest it is well prepared with a theoretical framework – but ill-prepared to pay for the adaptations needed.

The European Environment Agency looked at water quality, water availability and flooding policies across Europe and concludes that the UK is taking climate change flooding and supply issues seriously at a theoretical level but little adaptation has yet begun. Meanwhile, following a report to its Board, the Environment Agency is set to warn HM Treasury that the housing growth it seeks may not always be possible to accommodate, even with investment.

The EEA report says the UK is developing its adaptation framework in flooding, but in water demand and supply few companies have yet begun to implement adaptation actions.

“We in Europe need to get our act together on adaptation in the same way as we are leading on mitigation,” says EEA executive director Jacqueline McGlade.

But Britain has a further challenge – providing infrastructure for the housing growth areas and extensive growth elsewhere demanded by the Treasury to meet household growth. It is conducting a review of this growth to inform the Comprehensive Spending Review, and the Agency has agreed comments to submit.

It says a comprehensive picture of water, sewage, flood and waste infrastructure is lacking in England and Wales but it is clear waste investment is inadequate, much water and sewage infrastructure is in poor condition and climate change threatens to increase flooding. Long-term sewage planning is absent and water companies are failing to plan adequately for housing growth.

“Under-investment and deferred maintenance is threatening much of the existing environmental infrastructure in England and Wales,” says the report.

It also warns that the target of building 28,000 homes a year in South East England is too rigid and a more flexible approach is needed.

http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/agency-fuels-debate-on-adapting-water-polices-to-climate-change

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/housinggrowth_1697227.pdf