Water Scarcity in the UK: What the Built Environment Must Do Next
Water scarcity is no longer a distant risk for the UK, it’s a challenge unfolding now. Projections from the Environment Agency suggest that without significant reductions in demand and new investment in supply, England could face a daily water deficit of up to 5 billion litres by the 2050s. This shortfall represents roughly a third of current public water usage, highlighting the scale of change required across infrastructure, policy, and the built environment.
Understanding the supply-demand gap
Every day, public water providers in England and Wales deliver around 14 billion litres to homes, businesses, and public buildings.
On average, each person in England uses about 137 litres of water per day, a figure that has declined slightly in recent years but remains above long-term efficiency targets.
Alongside growing demand, the system is losing significant volumes through leakage. Current estimates show water companies in England lose over 2.6 billion litres every day before it reaches the end user. With hotter, drier summers becoming more frequent and population growth concentrated in already water-stressed regions, the pressure on supply is intensifying.
Why buildings are central to the solution
The built environment is both a major consumer of water and a key lever for reducing demand. From office blocks and healthcare estates to residential developments, design decisions and operational management can deliver large-scale savings.
For developers and facilities managers, water efficiency is increasingly tied to compliance, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance, and operational resilience. In some regions, planning authorities are already applying water neutrality requirements - meaning new developments must offset their projected water use with equivalent savings elsewhere in the catchment.
Proven measures to cut potable water use in buildings
What is water neutrality — and why it matters
Water neutrality within the context of the built environment, seeks to ensure that any new development does not increase the total water demand within a supply area. If a project is expected to raise demand, the developer must deliver water savings elsewhere. For example, by retrofitting existing buildings with efficient fixtures, installing rainwater harvesting systems, or implementing greywater reuse.
The concept is already influencing planning in high-risk zones. In parts of Sussex, Natural England has required developers to demonstrate water neutrality before projects can progress, due to the risk of over-abstraction from protected habitats.
For engineers and consultants, this means factoring water demand reduction into the earliest design stages - not only to meet planning requirements but also to future-proof against growing scarcity risks.
Water scarcity and climate resilience
Reducing water demand is a core part of climate resilience in buildings. Standards such as BREEAM, WELL, and LEED already integrate water efficiency into their assessment frameworks, and operational performance is becoming as important as design intent. Beyond environmental benefits, water efficiency can lower operating costs, improve occupant wellbeing, and strengthen an asset’s market appeal.
Challenges and Opportunities
Challenges include capital costs for retrofitting systems, split responsibility between owners and tenants, and the complexity of regulations governing water reuse.
Opportunities arise when projects embed water efficiency from the start - integrating non-potable water systems, smart monitoring, and leak management alongside energy and carbon reduction measures. These strategies not only cut mains demand but also contribute to ESG targets and corporate sustainability commitments.
The policy landscape — what to watch
Regulatory tightening: Updates to Building Regulations and local planning policies are pushing for lower per capita consumption, with some areas setting targets well below 110 litres per person per day.
National leakage reduction goals: The UK water industry has committed to halving leakage by 2050, supported by innovations in detection and monitoring.
Technology adoption: AI-assisted water management, predictive maintenance, and integration with digital twins are expected to become mainstream tools for large estates.
Practical next steps
Set clear water performance targets, ideally exceeding regulatory minimums.
Incorporate sub-metering early to track usage across systems and tenants.
Explore non-potable water systems where site conditions allow.
Engage with local water companies to understand regional supply challenges and explore opportunities for offsetting or supporting wider water efficiency initiatives.
Water scarcity is moving rapidly up the risk agenda for UK buildings. For the built environment, it’s no longer simply a matter of good practice - it’s becoming a condition of planning, a metric in investment decisions, and a key pillar of ESG strategy. By adopting efficiency measures, preparing for water neutrality, and integrating water considerations into every stage of the project lifecycle, building professionals can deliver assets that are both environmentally responsible and commercially resilient.
At CPW, our sustainability specialists work with clients to develop water efficiency strategies tailored to their estates - from water neutrality planning to integrated rainwater and greywater systems. The goal: to make every drop count.
Looking for ways to meet water neutrality and efficiency targets? Speak to our Sustainability Team to see how we can support your next project.