<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/19/water-reuse-recycling-law-cambridgeshire>
"The largest water reuse system in the UK, which could save thousands of litres
of water a day for people living in one of the driest regions of the country,
is not allowed to be switched on because of drinking water regulations.
As water supplies in England reach critical levels, the
Guardian can reveal
that a model water recycling system within an urban housing development in
Cambridgeshire has not been switched on since it was made ready in 2021.
Thousands of residents could be saving about 25 litres per person per day by
using recycled rainwater in their homes for non-drinking purposes. But the
water reuse system – installed by Cambridge Water at the Eddington urban
quarter, a mixed development of housing, student accommodation, academic
research space and a primary school and nursery – has been switched off because
the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) deems it is not in line with the law.
This summer’s drought has led to Cambridge Water and neighbouring Anglian Water
imposing hosepipe bans as reservoirs have run low.
The block to the water reuse scheme, and others that water companies want to
install, is hampering attempts to bring in large-scale water recycling schemes
for new developments and tackle the extreme water shortages the country faces
by 2055, experts warn.
Despite ministers in the current and previous governments being aware of the
obstacle, there has been no change to the law and the reuse system remains
locked down.
Lutz Johnen, the chair of the UK Water Reuse Association, said the block at
Eddington needed to be removed urgently and the system copied at scale across
the country."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
