Liverpool city region water supplier United Utilities launches major public consultation on maintaining water supplies for the next six decades. Tony McDonough reports

United Utilities (UU) is asking the public to have its say on how it can maintain water supplies to Merseyside and the North West for the next six decades.

On Tuesday it unveiled a draft plan to maintain supplies amid a changing climate by managing demand and fixing leaks. It also raises the possibility of transferring water to the South East of England which is more susceptible to droughts.

Based in Warrington, UU provides water and wastewater services for 7m people across the North West, including the whole Liverpool city region. Between 2020 and 2025 it is investing £5.9bn running and upgrading its services.

On Wednesday it published its draft Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP). This sets out a ‘strategic roadmap’ to ensure a reliable, sustainable and affordable supply of high quality water between 2025 and 2085.

Each day UU supplies 1.8bn litres of water from a network that includes 166 reservoirs, 88 water treatment works, and 42,000km of pipes. It employs around 5,000 people.

The WRMP outlines short, medium and long-term plans to deal with the challenges of climate change and population growth. It also highlights the investment and environmental improvement opportunities available.

As well as the sustainable use of water sources, the draft WRMP covers improving customer service levels, managing demand, reducing leaks, and encouraging more efficient water use.

It also explores the role that water transfers might play in supporting national water resilience. Options include transferring water from the North West and Wales to the South East.

Perry Hobbs, head of environmental strategy at UU, said: “There are many anticipated challenges for the years ahead.

“It’s essential that we have a robust and comprehensive WRMP in place to ensure we can continue to provide high quality water to our region in a way that is environmentally sustainable.

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“Our plan sets out a balance between supplying water and protecting our precious resources, and the environment on which they depend, while meeting the demands of a growing population and a developing region.”

The draft WRMP sets out how United Utilities will:

• Meet Government policy to halve the level of leaks and reduce water use per person per day to 110 litres by 2050.
• Protect the environment by reducing the amount of water taken from it.
• Support national planning by developing options such as boreholes and river sources to allow water transfer outside the region.
• Build new water sources to help reduce the frequency of needing temporary use bans by 2031.

Mr Hobbs added: “The consultation is open now, and we welcome responses from all customers and stakeholders to help inform our final plan, which we expect to publish in autumn 2023.”

Click here to find out more and respond to the consultation online. Deadline for submissions is March 15, 2023.