The UK's largest water reuse system, located within an urban housing development in Cambridgeshire, has not been switched on since its completion in 2021. This system, which could save thousands of litres of water daily, is currently blocked by drinking water regulations, according to the Guardian.
The system at the Eddington urban quarter, installed by Cambridge Water, was designed to recycle rainwater for non-drinking purposes like toilet flushing. However, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has intervened, stating that supplying grey water in homes is illegal under its interpretation of the 1991 Water Act and the 2016 water quality regulations.
This situation persists despite water supplies in England reaching critical levels, leading to hosepipe bans in areas served by Cambridge Water and Anglian Water. Experts warn that this legislative obstacle is hampering efforts to implement large-scale water recycling schemes and address projected extreme water shortages by 2055.
Lutz Johnen, chair of the UK Water Reuse Association, has called for urgent action to remove the block at Eddington and replicate the system nationwide. Cambridge Water is working with Defra to find solutions to the legislative constraints, while the DWI has created a framework for rainwater harvesting and grey water reuse, recommending a change in law to allow dual-use water systems.