Collaboration key to managing scarce water resources, says report

Water companies must collaborate with businesses and the government in order to better manage increasingly scarce water supplies, according to a new report from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).

Launched today at the Royal Society in London, the report presents four new financial models for cross-sector collaboration, aimed at challenging the current “single sector approach” and encouraging joint investment.

The report, a result of a collaboration between nine companies across six sectors, lays out options for finance, ranging from conventional water-company-led approaches to private sector initiatives.

Peter Simpson, chief executive of Anglian Water, said: “Ensuring that water is carefully stewarded and available in sufficient quantity and quality is a vital component of business success.

“Water scarcity can damage productivity, disrupt supply chains, put water users in competition with each other, and ultimately harm corporate trust and reputation. These risks impact sectors in many different ways, but collaboration and innovation are absolutely key to achieving resilience and to protecting the economy.”

The Institute aims to secure the long-term supply of produce from farmers to retailers, while offering water companies the opportunity to expand their business beyond the regulated public water supply.

Chris Brown, sustainable business director at Asda, said: “Inconsistent or unreliable supply of produce – caused by water scarcity or flooding – has a direct impact on supply chains. Retailers cannot act alone to manage necessary water supplies: a collaborative approach is needed, which is why we are pleased to be part of this initiative.”