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WEST COUNTRY WATER AND ENVIRONMENT

Improving water resources in the West Country

Comprising core and associate members, our purpose is to support a coordinated approach to water resources planning, to balance water supply with demand through a common regional understanding, while dealing with a range of challenges in the West Country.

Established in 2017, West Country Water and Environment (WCWE) aims to achieve a collaborative approach to water resources management in the region.

Our challenge is to deliver a coordinated plan to water resources to safeguard water resources for those living and working in the region while protecting its environment.   

MEETING FUTURE NEEDS SUSTAINABLY

The current water resources situation in the West Country is set to become more challenging for both water users and the environment. We are working with our partners and stakeholders to develop new sources to secure water availability sustainably within our region.
  • 110 litres

    of water consumption per person per day by 2050

  • 50%

    reduction in leakage by 2050, from baseline leakage levels in 2018

  • 1 in 500-year

    drought resilience by 2040

Our Draft Regional Plan sets out the long-term water needs for the West Country and explores:

  • options to respond to the future of water resource management
  • resilience of water supply
  • benefits to the environment in the region.

WEST COUNTRY WATER AND ENVIRONMENT

Stretching from Bristol and Wiltshire through Somerset to Devon and Cornwall, the West Country is made up of diverse and distinct areas facing their own unique water resource challenges.

Our aim is to support a coordinated approach to water resources and the environment planning in the West Country that transcends water company boundaries.

West Country Water and Environment is a collaboration of water companies, regulators and stakeholders.

Following a robust and rigorous process, we are working on three new, large-scale water supply schemes called Strategic Resource Options (SROs). These flagship projects will ensure we secure essential water supplies in the future while protecting and enhancing the environment.
A new reservoir at Cheddar is one of the three flagship schemes being undertaken to secure water resources across the region for generations to come.
We are planning a new reservoir in the Mendip Hills so that we can keep water flowing for our customers, communities and business across the West Country.
The Poole Water Recycling and Transfer scheme is one of the three flagship projects to secure water resources across the West Country for the future.