Sustainability 10

problem which requires shared solutions. And as external pressures increase on our water systems it becomes vital for us to start working more collaboratively across the sectors and build a shared vision for how we plan for and respond to periods of water scarcity and drought. Drought is a recurring problem with a serious economic, social and environmental cost globally.”

In East Anglia, many of the rivers and aquifers are unable to meet the demand for water and the lack of available water already impacts on the environment, agriculture and public water supply. All of which comes at a cost to the region in terms of additional emergency expenditure, lost income and a depletion of natural capital.

In the French regions of the Channel area, the issue is emerging with more frequent and longer droughts leading to increased concerns over future public water supply and the potential for conflicts among different sectors.

In the Brittany pilot site, for example, risks of water supply failure could emerge around popular tourist spots as demand for water supply peaks in the summer months when water resources are scarce. In the Hautsde-France pilot site, growing demand for irrigation and from urban areas may jeopardise the water balance in the near future.

Water for Tomorrow will address these challenges by engaging with stakeholders from all sectors to co-design and test innovative operational management and planning tools and use smart technology to deliver multi-objective and costeffective outcomes across the project.

In practice the project will:

Carry out modelling work to identify through simulation the points of failure within the current management system and determine interventions that can improve resilience.

Support the optimisation of increasingly scarce water resources, reducing the risk of failure and related damage costs incurred by water utilities, society, business and the environment - increasing the resilience of the FCE economy and its underpinning Natural Capital.

Involve all stakeholders, at the local and regional level, in the development of innovative water management approaches.

Trigger exchange of experience and cross fertilisation between French and

English partners who have different yet complementary water management frameworks.

Share lessons learnt, results and innovative methodologies and tools with a broad audience of

water managers and planners in the Channel region.

The best practice(s) identified in the project will be upscaled to other catchments and water management areas in France and England.

Carolyn Reid, Programme Manager for the Interreg France (Channel) England programme, said: “Water scarcity is a recurring problem with serious economic, social and environmental cost for the Channel area. The funding for this project, will help address this challenge and increase local resilience by bringing together relevant stakeholders to co-design innovative management tools and systems.”

The project has a total budget of €4m funding of which €2,8m has been co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund via the Interreg France (Channel) England Programme.

Water scarcity is a recurring problem with serious economic, social and environmental cost for the Channel area. The funding for this project, will help address this challenge and increase local resilience by bringing together relevant stakeholders to co-design innovative management tools and systems.

ANGLO-FRENCH WATER

FREE WI-FI HELPS PEOPLE CONNECT DIGITALLY IN GREAT YARMOUTH’S MARKET PLACE

Visitors to Great Yarmouth’s Market Place can now access free public wi-fi as part of the cross-Channel Go Trade project that’s helping to revitalise historic markets.