Water transfers between companies must “double” in the next 10 to 20 years, Dr Sebastian Catovsky, deputy director of water services at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told the EFRA select committee .
The National Infrastructure Assessment, highlighted transfers as one of the key tools for remedying potential water shortages.
Providing evidence on Wednesday (11 July), he said the 4% of water presently traded between companies “probably needs to double over the next 10 to 20 years”.
Dr Catovsky suggested that the National Policy Statement (NPS) Defra is currently working on could drive the development of the associated infrastructure needed for water trading.
“The NPS is there to identify need for new infrastructure. We recognise that we can’t leave it just to individual companies. There will be some transfers that we need a national view on.”
Labour MP Angela Smith, said the government has a “real role” ensuring that transfers happen, potentially requiring the new project style delivery vehicles such as used for the Thames Tideway Tunnel.