England faces growing pressure on its water supplies due to factors like population growth, climate change and rising demand. The Government estimates 5 billion litres more water per day will be needed by 2050. Substantial additional water storage capacity will be needed to meet this challenge.

We ask the Government to commit to a long-term programme of funding new reservoirs to increase water storage capacity and secure future water supplies. We believe building new reservoirs will help provide reliable water supplies during periods of drought, reduce pressure on rivers and groundwater, support farming and allow England to accommodate future population and economic growth while protecting the environment.