Following Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s claim that Britain’s way of life is “under threat” from climate change, local planning authorities (LPAs) are being urged to mandate rainwater harvesting across all new infrastructure projects, from residential developments to high-rise commercial buildings.

The call comes from Wilo, after the Met Office’s latest climate report revealed that extremes of heat, rainfall and droughts are becoming the norm. It also outlined that the past three years have been among the top five warmest on record for the UK.

Various water companies have already announced hosepipe bans, with reservoir levels at their lowest for a decade.

With the need for decentralised water resilience more crucial than ever before, Steven Walker, Technical Sales Manager at Wilo UK, stresses that rainwater harvesting is now a must – not a ‘nice to have’:

“Rainwater is a resource, not a runoff problem. Whether it’s a compact system for a single home or a high-capacity solution for apartments or mixed-use buildings, rainwater harvesting must become standard practice — not a planning afterthought.”

Wilo’s call aligns with growing industry consensus that the UK lacks a joined-up strategy for managing rainfall where it lands. Current infrastructure relies heavily on centralised treatment and outdated drainage systems, contributing to storm overflows, water waste and environmental degradation.

By comparison, rainwater harvesting offers a dual benefit. It reduces demand on mains water for non-potable uses like toilet flushing, irrigation and cleaning. It also provides stormwater attenuation, easing pressure on combined sewers and reducing flood risk.

Steven Walker continued:

“We know the UK is embarking on a mass wave of housebuilding and infrastructure development, and it is critical that a rainwater harvesting strategy is part of the planning agenda now to avoid a water shortage crisis just a few years down the line.

“Wilo has developed solutions that are scalable for every development. For example, our AF 400 system is designed for large buildings and commercial sites, offering a 400-litre hybrid tank that can be connected to the mains water system, making it ideal for high occupancy buildings like apartments, student accommodation or offices. With its smart control integration and energy-efficient operation, the pump is sustainable and user-friendly for facilities managers and building owners.”

For residential schemes, Wilo also offers compact systems that integrate seamlessly with existing plumbing and meet water efficiency targets, such as the Wilo-RAIN1 solution.

Steven Walker believes there are three key steps needed to help push the nation to undertake rainwater harvesting, which includes:

• Incentivising retrofitting in existing buildings
• Updating building regulations to reflect modern water reuse standards
• Integrating rainwater reuse into SuDS frameworks

“We’ve seen energy decentralisation embraced through solar panels and heat pumps, backed by government funding and schemes” he added. “It’s time water followed suit. Rainwater harvesting is low-carbon, low-cost and high-impact — and it’s ready to scale now with solutions already on the market.”

Headquartered in Dortmund, Germany, Wilo is a leading premium provider of pumps and pump systems for building services, water management and industry.

Currently Wilo has three climate neutral production facilities in Europe with all major global sites on target to be climate neutral by 2025. The company employs around 8,200 people worldwide, with c100 employees in the UK.