CEO BLOG: When the Elastic Band Snaps - Why Water Resilience Matters More Than Ever

Imagine stretching an elastic band. At first it flexes easily, then tighter, and tighter still. Eventually, with one more pull, it breaks. Our water infrastructure is that band. Every heatwave, every downpour, every month of below-average rainfall stretches it further. At some point, without change, it will snap.This summer has shown us just how fragile our water systems can be. Several regions have already seen less rain than expected, and reservoirs are running low even before the driest months are over. At the same time, when the rain does come, it often arrives in intense bursts that overwhelm drains and flood streets. To the public, droughts are obvious when hosepipe bans are introduced. What is less visible are the pipes that crack as the ground beneath them dries and shifts, or the hidden stress on treatment works that are forced to do more with less.The traditional response to scarcity has been to build big. Reservoirs, transfer schemes and new treatment plants are all being planned — and they are important. But they take years to deliver. If the next dry summer arrives before they are complete, today’s networks will be asked to stretch even further. And even once built, we must ask: will they be enough in a future where climate extremes are more frequent and more severe?The answer lies not just in scale, but in flexibility. A resilient water system is one that can adapt to whatever the climate throws at it. That means using digital tools to monitor the health of our assets in real time, so we can repair weak points before they fail. It means designing infrastructure to cope with extremes — pipes that can withstand shifting soils, pumping systems that can flex to sudden changes in demand. It means investing in nature as well as concrete: wetlands and restored river corridors that store water in droughts and soak it up in floods. And it means working with households, businesses and communities to reduce demand, cut leakage, and build a culture of water efficiency.Resilience is not a distant aspiration; it is an urgent necessity. The past months of below-average rainfall have made clear that the risks we face are not theoretical. Climate shocks are no longer “one-in-a-hundred-year” events. They are happening now, and they will happen again.If we continue to treat our water infrastructure like an endlessly stretchable elastic band, we should not be surprised when it breaks. But if we embrace flexibility — in our assets, our operations, and our behaviour — we can build a system that bends without snapping, ensuring secure and sustainable supplies for the future.

Supplier Engagement Day – Water & Wastewater Sector

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is hosting an Industry Day for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the water and wastewater sector. The event will take place on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, at Villa Park, Birmingham.

The session, part of the Defence Water Services Programme (DWSP), offers SMEs the chance to showcase their capabilities and engage directly with the MoD on future opportunities. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

SMEs interested in attending should request an invite by emailing DIODCT-PFIRP@mod.gov.uk

no later than Monday, 15 September 2025, 17:00

Summary Table

Detail

Information

Event

Industry Day for DWSP (SMEs)

Date

14 October 2025

Location

Villa Park, Birmingham, B6 6HE

Purpose

Market engagement and dialogue for DWSP procurement

Target Audience

SMEs in water & wastewater sector

How to Participate

Request invite via email to DIODCT-PFIRP@mod.gov.uk by 15 Sept 2025, 17:00