Water resilience in a changing climate with Northumbrian Water Group

www.nwl.co.uk

LinkedIn: NWG (Northumbrian Water Group)

2025 has been a real watershed year.

With only 327 millimetres of rain between January and August, it’s the third driest year on record.

It has left water stocks lower than usual and put a lot of pressure on the region’s natural resources.

But Northumbrian Water hasn’t sat back and watched; it has acted and shown that you can care for the environment and continue to deliver clean, tasty water at the same time.

The North East managed to get through the summer without a hosepipe ban, thanks to the careful and continuous monitoring of water stocks, using experts within Northumbrian Water, and their years of experience, to proactively manage supplies and make sure everyone had the water they needed.

Investing in resilience and innovation

When the prolonged dry weather started in April, Northumbrian Water moved quickly.

In the first half of 2025, it repaired 45 per cent more leaks than the same period last year.

That’s a big jump and shows how serious it is about saving every drop.

But it isn’t just about fixing leaks – Northumbrian Water is putting more than £4.5 billion into the region’s water and wastewater infrastructure over the next five years.

The goal? To make sure the North East’s water system is ready for whatever the future throws at it.

Bluespaces: Making water environments better for everyone

The relationship between water quality and the environment is obvious, so alongside the big investments in infrastructure, Northumbrian Water is also celebrating the success of its Bluespaces programme.

Since 2020, more than £500,000 has been invested into 59 projects, working with partners to improve nearly 250 kilometres of rivers, lakes, wetlands and coastlines.

These places are vital for wildlife and offer great opportunities for recreation, learning and wellbeing.

Bluespaces isn’t just about the environment, it’s about creating places where people and nature can both thrive.

Highlights include:

• Planting more than 17,500 trees to boost biodiversity and help the climate, including 3,500 along the Skerne Bridleway and 1,433 at Derwent Reservoir (with help from Durham Wildlife Trust).

• Around 11,700 people taking part in 447 events, with volunteers putting in more than 4,000 days on activities including litter picking and bank repairs at places like Bishop Auckland Cemetery and Low Staindrop Field House Farm.

• Improved accessibility, with 80 new benches, seats and signs installed, and 67 new features to help fish move through waterways.

Working together for a sustainable future

Despite all these achievements, Northumbrian Water knows it can’t do everything alone.

The company is calling on customers – especially businesses – to get involved.

Even small changes, like tweaking irrigation schedules or switching to water-efficient appliances, can make a big difference when lots of people take such action.

It’s easy to forget the hot, dry summer now that autumn’s here, but the signs of climate change are everywhere: cracked ground, low rivers and yellow grass.

That’s why Northumbrian Water is urging everyone to adopt smarter water habits.

But reservoir levels are still low, and with every month in 2025 so far being drier than average, we need a lot more rain to get things back to normal.

Kieran Ingram, water director, says: “We’re known in the North East for our iconic rivers and reservoirs, and it’s important we do all we can to keep the environment as it should be.

“Every drop of water saved at home or at work is a drop that stays in the environment where it belongs.”

There’s a lot of talk about saving energy, but water efficiency sometimes gets overlooked.

After this year’s long, hot summer and lack of rain, it’s taking longer for the environment to bounce back.

If customers save water where they can, it helps the environment and saves money on bills too.

Smart meters are another tool in the fight for sustainability.

They give real-time data on water use, helping people see their habits and make better choices.

With demand rising as the population grows, apps now let users track their water use daily, weekly or monthly, making it easier to hit sustainability goals.

A shared responsibility

Water scarcity isn’t just a future problem, it’s happening now.

Business leaders have a unique chance to make a difference by making water stewardship part of their company culture.

Whether it’s investing in smart tech, getting employees involved or working with suppliers, the private sector can play a big role in protecting water for the future.

Northumbrian Water Group

For more information about Northumbrian Water Group, including its environmental priorities, visit the website at the top of this article.

To learn more about smart water meters for businesses, visit www.nwl.co.uk/business/smart-water-meters/.