Water strategy: Message from Hilary Benn

We’ve come to expect some of the highest quality water in the world and an almost endless supply, for brushing our teeth, taking a shower in the morning or preparing food. We also use this water to heat our homes and offices, water our gardens and in thousands of industrial processes. The more we use the less there is for the countryside and the wildlife around us, and the more greenhouse gases are emitted from supplying, treating and heating this water, and collecting and treating the wastewater.

Because of our need to adapt to climate change and other pressures such as changing land use, we need to find ways of using water much more efficiently and sustainably.

Future Water sets out some of the practical steps we will need to take to ensure that good clean water is available for people, businesses and nature. It looks ahead to 2030 and describes the water management we want by then. Because almost everything we do affects water in some way – from what we put down the drain and treat in our sewage works, to how we design our houses or farm the land – it looks at every aspect of water use.

We are all becoming increasingly aware of the need to value water more, use it more wisely and play our part in taking responsibility for protecting this essential and unique resource. This strategy helps us do so.

Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs