Atkins to Conduct Major Study for Water UK

Leading engineering and design company Atkins has just been appointed to carry out a major report on the resilience of UK water supplies for  industry body Water UK. Atkins will be working in conjunction with partners NERA Economic Consulting and Mott MacDonald.

The ‘Water Resources – Planning for the Long-term‘ project is set to shape a framework that takes the next 50 years into account and the team aim to strengthen the resilience of water supplies for users across the UK whilst protecting the environment by the summer of 2016.

The lead role of understanding and ascertaining better methods of allowing for risk and uncertainty in water resource and drought planning will be undertaken by Atkins, and the findings of the project will inform major changes afoot as to the manner in which water resources are managed and planned in the UK, as well as to the challenges faced by a changing climate and economy.

Project partners will develop new and innovative approaches to water resource planning within the water industry with the expertise gained through work for UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), individual water companies, and government and regulators,

According to Technical Director at Atkins, Ben Piper, “There have never been so many complex challenges for the UK water industry, especially when you take climate challenges into account – severe droughts, floods and sometimes cold weather conditions are increasingly becoming the norm. This, combined with tighter-than-ever industry environmental standards, means that the UK water industry is faced with a challenging future. The Atkins team will set out what the water industry needs to do now to ensure that we have a dependable water supply for future generations.”