The environment agency has classified East Anglia as 'seriously water stressed'
This is according to Councillor Richard Route after Suffolk County Council revised a policy agreed to protect Suffolk’s water supplies
Last updated 20th May 2023
Suffolk County Council Cabinet has agreed to a revised infrastructure policy to support water security in the region and adapt to climate change.
Cabinet members agreed to a revision to the Energy Infrastructure Policy to cover future projects needed to protect and maintain water resources, including reservoirs, pipelines and water recycling plants.
This new policy addition lays out how future water infrastructure projects will be managed and the council’s role with stakeholders, such as the water companies, Ofwat and the Environment Agency.
It also sets out how the council will recover the money it has to spend in the planning process for infrastructure projects.
Why is it so important to protect and maintain water resources?
Councillor Richard Rout from Suffolk County Council told us more about the impact of protecting water resources.
"The environment agency has classified East Anglia as 'seriously water stressed' meaning that we all need to take water conservation incredibly seriously.
"With a fantastic large farming community in Suffolk, our community plays a huge role in feeding the nation - without sufficient water supplies this would simply not be possible and could jeopardise the nation's food security."
What's included in this revision?
Councillor Route told us about some of the things involved in this new plan.
"We've partnered in the public in Felixstowe which see's 6-hundred-thousand tons of water each year being directed to local farmers instead of being directed to the North Sea.
"On average the farming sector uses about 1% of water supplies, but in Suffolk that sits at approximately 16%, so supporting our farmers, (and) ensuring our water security, is incredibly important to Suffolk County Council.
"We speak to our farmers regularly.. we share their concerns to protect Suffolk's water resources, which is one of the reasons for making it a priority in this policy update.
"We're striving to lead the way in Suffolk and support our local farmers and food suppliers."