{"id":24529,"date":"2022-08-15T11:38:34","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T10:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=24529"},"modified":"2022-08-15T11:38:34","modified_gmt":"2022-08-15T10:38:34","slug":"mitigating-impacts-of-climate-change-on-water-cycle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/mitigating-impacts-of-climate-change-on-water-cycle\/24529\/","title":{"rendered":"Mitigating the impacts of climate change on the water cycle"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Innovation Platform<\/em> spoke to Marc Hannis, Principal of Ofwat\u2019s Water Innovation Fund<\/a>, about the impacts of climate change on the water cycle.<\/h2>\n

Climate change is one of the world\u2019s biggest challenges and will have a substantial and lasting impact on the water cycle. Major impacts of climate change on the water cycle include changing rainfall patterns that could increase the risk of drought and surface water and sewer flooding. Climate change may exacerbate the damage caused by overflows of untreated wastewater into the environment. This is a serious problem \u2013 the UK needs a reliable water cycle.<\/p>\n

Established in 1989, Ofwat<\/a> is a non-ministerial government department aiming to improve the environment and life through water. Ofwat recognises the importance of mitigating the impacts of climate change on the water sector and believes that not only should the sector adapt to the impacts of climate change, but should also adapt its practices to meet the challenge of net zero. In a drive to grow the water sector\u2019s capacity to innovate, Ofwat established a \u00a3200m Water Innovation Fund in 2020. The scheme delivers a series of competitions open to water companies who are encouraged to innovate around Ofwat\u2019s strategic themes. To find out more, The Innovation Platform<\/em> spoke to Marc Hannis, Principal of Ofwat\u2019s Water Innovation Fund.<\/p>\n

How does Ofwat support the water sector to protect the environment?<\/h3>\n

A healthy, functioning environment is crucial for the water sector to deliver the services and outcomes needed by people, society, and the environment.<\/p>\n

We believe we have a shared responsibility to protect people and the natural world; from preserving precious water supplies, helping customers and communities, to protecting and enhancing wildlife.<\/p>\n

While the Environment Agency is the main body responsible for regulating water quality and ecological protection, Ofwat plays a critical role in driving and enabling the water sector to protect and improve the environment.<\/p>\n

The sector is reliant on a predictable and sustainable hydrological system or water cycle. Multiple pressures including population growth, climate change, and the desire to reduce water abstraction mean the sector has to be more flexible, resilient, and innovative.<\/p>\n

That means water companies tackling storm overflows of excess rainwater that divert sewage into waterways, continuing to drive down the volume of water lost to leaks in 347,636km<\/a> of water mains, and maintaining and upgrading infrastructure to prevent wastewater spillage in the 571,434km<\/a> of sewer pipes.<\/p>\n

It also means playing an active role in the transition to a net zero economy. The water cycle sector is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change \u2013 whether that is unpredictable rainfall in drought, deluges resulting in an overwhelmed sewage system, or river health and biodiversity coming under threat from a heating planet.<\/p>\n

Ofwat also recognises the sector\u2019s contribution to atmospheric greenhouse gasses. A significant amount of energy is used to pump water to homes and transport wastewater to treatment centres \u2013 around 2-3% of all electricity in the UK is used by the water sector. For this reason, the sector has set itself the ambition of being net zero by 2030.<\/p>\n

In 2021, Ofwat launched a \u00a3200m innovation fund to incentivise new initiatives and technologies that align with our four innovation themes and accelerate the move to a net zero and environmentally sustainable future for the water industry and its customers. The four themes are:<\/p>\n