Making every drop of water count

In the developed world, we take it for granted that turning on a tap will give us instant access to clean, drinkable water. But things are changing. The impacts of factors such as climate change, population and industrial shifts, and aging infrastructure mean that global freshwater demand is set to outstrip supply by 40 percent by 2030. That means a concerted effort is needed to ensure that the water stays on, for both people and industry. 

In the latest episode of the Shaping Sustainable Places podcast, we speak with two experts on the frontline of this work. Siân Thomas is Director of Strategic Asset Management at UK water company Anglian Water. Jon Kiteley is Divisional Director for Energy, Water and Environment at Skanska in the UK. Skanska is part of an alliance of companies that develop capital infrastructure for Anglian. 

Planning for water scarcity

Siân explains that Anglian Water operates mainly in England’s east in one of the UK’s driest regions. This makes long-term, system-wide planning essential. With significant population growth expected over the coming decades, ensuring reliable supply means that Anglian needs to look well beyond short-term fixes.

She says supply pressures are being increased by modern urban development patterns. Rainfall that once soaked slowly into the ground now runs rapidly off hard urban surfaces, limiting groundwater recharge and reducing the water available for later use. Addressing this challenge requires planners to think about water movement across entire catchment areas, not just individual assets.

Managing demand is also an important part of the equation. Anglian is phasing in smart water meters that give customers real-time visibility of their usage, helping them to better understand how much water they consume and encouraging more efficient behavior. To increase long-term resilience, Anglian Water is also investing in major infrastructure solutions. These include strategic pipelines to move water across the region, as well as future options such as new reservoirs, desalination plants and the reuse of treated wastewater to help safeguard supplies for communities and businesses.

Turning strategy into delivery

For Jon Kiteley, the overarching challenge lies in translating these strategies into practical outcomes on the ground. He says that the way projects are designed, built and delivered has a major influence on their effectiveness, cost and environmental impact.

Jon says digital monitoring is a critical enabler, providing detailed insight into water flows, leakage and asset performance. This data allows investment to be targeted more precisely and supports stronger value-for-money decisions across capital programs.

He also points to the role of construction innovation in reducing carbon and material use. Techniques such as 3D printing enable components to be built exactly as needed, cutting waste and embodied emissions. At the same time, nature-based solutions such using wetlands to filter water offer a powerful complement to traditional engineering, improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity and reducing reliance on chemical treatment.

Water may flow silently through pipes and landscapes, but protecting it requires deliberate, coordinated action. From planning and design through to delivery, this episode shows how thoughtful intervention can help secure water for the generations ahead.

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