The Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the independent body established under the Climate Change Act to advise the UK government on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, is warning the government of the urgency for water abstraction reform.
In a letter to the Secretary of State at Defra, the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP welcoming the Government’s proposed water abstraction reforms set out in January 2016, Lord Krebs, Chair of the CCC Adaptation Sub-Committee said:
“The importance and urgency of abstraction reform is such that we strongly recommend including the necessary primary legislation in the next Queen’s speech.”
Lord Krebs told the minister that CCC research shows that under a high population and high climate change scenario, more than a third of water demand might not be met in 60 of 296 of the UK’s river catchment areas, while in numerous others no water at all may be available for abstraction.
He also warned that the estimates assume that water resource management plans by the water companies would be delivered in full between now and the 2030s and that if delivery falls short the deficits would be even more pronounced. A flexible water licencing system which can be adjusted to reflect changing water availability is critical, he added.
New system must avoid rewarding past profligacy
Lord Krebs told the Minister that the CCC noted that continued work by the government and regulators is needed to ensure the reforms are successfully implemented by the early 2020s, commenting:
“… the transition to any new system will need to be carefully handled to avoid past profligacy being rewarded at the expense of those that have managed water efficiently.”
He also said that customer challenge groups must balance keeping water bills low in the short term with the need to adapt now to long-term pressures from climate change when scrutinising the water companies’ business plans for the upcoming price review in 2019.
The CCC is an independent body established under the Climate Change Act to advise the UK Government on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.