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New UK Water Capabilities Directory Published
The UK Water Partnership has produced a new UK Water Capabilities directory to support the Department for International Trade (DIT) in the promotion of British expertise, with the directory linking companies to international business leads and helping the country’s water sector grow and flourish.
Firms that specialise in water resilience will be encouraged to sign up to help improve access to international markets, categorised by areas of expertise and the locations in which they operate.
There will also be a white paper published, explaining the UK’s breadth and depth of expertise in water resilience, with the project being managed by HR Wallingford and Arup, steered by DIT, Defra, Anglian Water, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and Costain.
Technical director at HR Wallingford Andy Ball said: “We have a wealth of UK companies that have world-leading expertise in flood defences, climate change, dams, drainage, technologies, natural flood management and much more.
“The directory, presentation and white paper will present a clear picture to the rest of the world on how much expertise lies in the UK and how it can assist other countries.”
Deputy director of infrastructure at the DIT Matt Crossman made further comments, saying that one of the big priorities for governments all over the world is sustainable infrastructure and by drawing attention to UK expertise, it will be possible for other countries to develop the necessary high-quality infrastructure.
The UK Water Partnership also recently put on a series of circular economy events, based around a white paper exploring the relationship between a circular economy and sustainable water management.
A route map is now being developed for the circular water economy, with reference to three key principles: designing out waste externalities, keeping resources in use and regenerating natural capital.
You can find out more about the circular water economy by reading this white paper from the Ellen Macarthur Foundation.
Designing out waste externalities involves optimising the amount of energy, minerals and chemicals in the operation of water systems, optimising consumptive use of water within sub-basin relative to adjacent sub-basins and using measures or solutions that drive the same outcomes without having to use water at all.
Keeping resources in use will involve optimising resource yields within water systems (such as water use and reuse, energy, minerals and chemicals), optimising energy or resource extraction from water systems and maximising reuse, and optimising value generated in the interfaces of water systems with other systems.
And the regeneration of natural capital involves maximising environmental flows through the reduction of consumptive and non-consumptive uses of water, preserving and enhancing the natural capital (through river restoration, pollution prevention and so on) and ensuring minimum disruption to natural water systems through human interactions and use.
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