Meeting regional and national water resources needs

Overall objectives The aim of this project is to ensure that a full range of strategic water resources options is explored and considered to provide best value and benefit to society as a whole now, and in the future. This aim supports RAPID's vision of "Resilient, timely, high-quality, environmentally beneficial water resources that are acceptable and affordable for customers". The project's main objective is to review opportunities for increasing the availability and sharing of water resources that are in the wider national and regional interest; opportunities which may not have been considered (or have been rejected) in the development the current suite of strategic options, as well as opportunities that may be available further ahead. This could include opportunities that exist outside of public water supply sector - for example, utilising navigation or flood management assets. Scope of work This project is a desk top study. It is a high level review intended to identify potential current and future opportunities. It is not expected to provide detailed cost information; rather, a high level assessment of potential; estimated timescales to implementation; and an indication of costs and benefits with the consideration given to how they may be best funded for the wider public good. We can facilitate contacts with the appropriate water resources, flood risk management and navigation leads at the Environment Agency and at Canals and Rivers Trust, but the revie... and consider whether a different decision would have been made if the scheme was considered in the regional/national/multi-user interest instead of a single company's. 2. Identify and review opportunities for increasing and sharing resources that might exist outside the public water supply in England and Wales. 2.1. Identify potential partners from sectors outside of public water supply whose assets could have potential to increase water availability (such as - but not limited to - owners of navigation and flood risk management assets). 2.2. Gather the necessary information on potential options for supply and transfers, and make a high level assessment of feasibility of these options. This task is envisaged to focus on scoping future opportunities for multi-functional use of flood risk and navigation assets; however, we are also interested in an informed view on any opportunities/options for water resources that might exist currently. 3. Present findings and recommendations in the draft report, to be shared with the steering group and other interested stakeholders including regional water resource groups and partners identified during the review. The report should include a high level assessment of potential for water resources; estimated timescales to implementation; a high level indication of costs and benefits; and a consideration of potential sources of funding outside of the public water sector. 4. Produce final report and hold a dissemination workshop.