The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a long-term plan for meeting the challenges England's water suppliers and users, including farmers, are likely to face as a result of climate change and population growth.
The National Framework for Water Resources brings together industry, regulators and government to transform the way water supplies are used and protected.
Five regional groups across the country will work up plans tailored to the specific needs of their individual area, bringing together the 17 English water companies, industry regulators, government and other water users. The framework will guide these groups and deliver a national blueprint for future water resources planning from 2025 to 2050 and beyond, says the EA.
The framework also sets out the challenges that water-intensive industries such as agriculture and power generation are likely to face across different parts of the country as a result of climate change, and how these can be overcome.
Water supplies
Responding to the publication, NFU deputy president Stuart Roberts said: "Recently we have been seeing far too much water in some places and not enough in others, and sometimes both at the same time.
"With the country experiencing more frequent and extreme weather events due to climate change, it's absolutely vital that we have a well thought through, practical and effective framework when it comes to managing this vital resource.
"I'm glad that the Environment Agency has taken on many of our recommendations within its new water framework, including plans to make it easier to move water to different parts of the country.
"The publication of this framework is an important step and we now need to see the government working with farmers and growers to drive forward climate and water friendly food production."
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Largest agricultural water use area
In the area covered by Anglian Water, Essex and Suffolk Water, Affinity Water, Severn Trent Water and Cambridge Water, additional public water supply needs between 2025 and 2050 are estimated to be 570 million litres/day to account for drought resilience, population change, environmental improvement and climate change.
Estimated total demand from other users in the region, including agriculture, power generation and industry is estimated to be 444Ml/d. Use for agriculture totals and average of 202Ml/day, mainly for spray irrigation.
