The five year mindset developed by the AMP framework needs to be changed for a much longer cycle, according to George Day, OFWAT’s head of capital maintenance.

“A 25-30 year look at supply and demand would be more appropriate, and we should also consider issues such as drainage, rather than treating water resource in isolation” he said during a conference on the impact of climate change on the water industry.

In terms of adapting to climate change, Mr Day indicated that the sector has a huge job ahead of it.  OFWAT has asked industry to prepare long term, strategic direction policies, with a view to examining how society can adapt to climate change and how wetter winters and drier, hotter summers will stress both water supply and treatment infrastructures.

Britain has had its wettest winter since 1914 and experts agree that the peaks and troughs in water availability will continue to grow.