Recycling water in domestic and commercial settings is critically important for mitigating projected water scarcity challenges. However, the effective normalisation of water reuse in the UK is contingent upon establishing a skilled and trustworthy workforce of installers and plumbers.
The UK faces a confluence of pressures, including a projected daily public water deficit of five billion litres by 20551 and a government commitment to delivering 1.5 million new homes. These simultaneous demands risk inhibiting housing development, particularly within water-stressed regions such as East and South East England. The Enabling Water Smart Communities (EWSC) project seeks innovative, multi-disciplinary solutions to this housing and water challenge, which analysis suggests could cost the UK economy up to £25 billion2 in economic activity over five years. Crucially, while addressing water availability, the integrity of water quality and public health must not be compromised.
To ensure public trust, the professionalisation of the water reuse sector is essential. The EWSC is advocating for the implementation of comprehensive accreditation frameworks and competent person schemes. George Warren, Integrated Water Manager at Anglian Water and EWSC lead, underscores this need: “Urgent action is needed to equip our workforce with the skills necessary to implement water reuse systems safely and effectively across the UK. We cannot afford to let a skills gap hinder our progress.”
Water reuse as a strategic solution
Water reuse – the harvesting of rainwater or greywater reuse for non-potable applications such as flushing or washing our laundry – is a cornerstone of the UK’s water efficiency strategy to 2030.3 Small-scale systems offer substantial resilience during drought periods and can assist in stormwater management while reducing per capita consumption from the current building regulations baseline of 110 litres per day to below 80 litres per day.4 This strategic importance was highlighted by Sir Jon Cunliffe in the final report of the Independent Water Commission, which called for regulatory action to drive the adoption of water reuse infrastructure in the UK.
Plugging a skills deficit
Given the challenges and the potential of water reuse, Waterwise undertook a scoping study5 for EWSC to examine the anticipated skills deficit. The research, which included interviews and a multi-disciplinary roundtable, identified insufficiencies in the current workforce and supply chain capabilities to meet the projected demand for water reuse systems.
The plumbing industry requires urgent upskilling, particularly concerning dual-pipe systems, regulatory compliance, and cross-contamination prevention. Key systemic challenges include the unfamiliarity of legacy-trained plumbers with modern water-reuse practices, inconsistent regulatory clarity and enforcement, and fragmented training provision. Moreover, the report, ‘Bridging the skills gap for water reuse in the UK’, highlights a broader educational deficit across the entire construction and property ecosystem. Professionals, including architects, designers, engineers, housebuilders, and building control, must possess a comprehensive understanding of water reuse system nuances, including the critical health and safety risks associated with improper installation and maintenance. Recommendations to address this deficit include embedding water reuse into plumbing and apprenticeship courses, establishing accreditation, and introducing a competent persons scheme with flexible learning methods.
Global lessons and policy alignment
International models from countries such as Australia, Singapore, and parts of the United States demonstrate the viability of water reuse as a safe, reliable, and economically sound solution, supported by robust regulatory frameworks and well-developed training pathways. Within the UK, some manufacturers are already taking a proactive lead by providing bespoke training programmes, creating a foundation for wider sectoral development. Commercial projects are also serving as crucial case studies, demonstrating the tangible benefits of sophisticated water recycling systems in terms of water conservation and operational efficiency.
This specific water reuse skills gap is situated within a wider national construction skills deficit, where an additional 250,000 workers6 are forecast to be needed by 2028, including 70,000 new plumbers by 2032.7 Despite governmental commitments to skills funding (e.g., £600 million for construction training), water reuse remains marginalised within the dominant low-carbon sectors of renewables and energy-saving, likely due to the comparatively low cost of water. Water reuse must be firmly integrated into the national green skills narrative to access necessary funding and professional development pathways.
Recent policy momentum, notably the Water UK Skills Summit in July 2025 – which saw government and industry commit to scaling apprenticeships and offering a £25,000 research prize amidst a £104 billion investment drive8 – demonstrates growing institutional support. The EWSC report’s overarching call is for a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder strategy that includes:
- Training and education: Ensuring all stakeholders, from ground-level practitioners to policymakers, understand their role in the water reuse ecosystem.
- Regulatory frameworks: Clarifying and standardising regulations to provide certainty for the supply chain and prevent public health incidents.
- Dedicated funding: Establishing investment streams for workforce development.
- Strategic alignment: Integrating water reuse skills with national green skills and net-zero objectives.
Through collaborative action by policymakers, educators, and industry, the UK can fund, professionalise, and mainstream water reuse, thereby building resilient, sustainable communities capable of tackling future water challenges.
Jo Osborn has over 20 years’ experience in the water industry, with a particular interest in stakeholder engagement and behaviour change communications. She completed an MSc in Behavioural Science at LSE. In her spare time, Jo enjoys open water swimming, trying to limit netball injuries and playing the cello. She supports her local orchestra by not putting people through the pain of her playing, but instead using her media skills to get their events in the press.
FWR Analysis Articles are designed to provide a view on topical issues across the water sector. This is an opinion article and does not necessarily reflect the views of the FWR, IES or the author’s current or past affiliated organisations.
References
1 Environment Agency (2025) England faces 5 billion litre public water shortage by 2055 without urgent action. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/england-faces-5-billion-litre-public-water-shortage-by-2055-without-urgent-action
2 Enabling Water Smart Communities (2025) Research paper: The case for water smart housing. https://www.ewsc.org.uk/project-reports/the-case-for-water-smart-housing
3 Waterwise (2022) UK Water Efficiency Strategy to 2030. https://waterwise.org.uk/about-us/#section-3
4 EWSC and CIWEM. Water reuse in new housing: Understanding the business case. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65a8f1c60057e116c14c4600/t/67533f2d8d6e8273ab95b15a/1733508911324/Water+reuse+in+new+homes+-+business+case+report.pdf
5 Waterwise UK (2025) Report calls for urgent action to bridge skills gap for water reuse in the UK. https://waterwise.org.uk/report-calls-for-urgent-action-to-bridge-skills-gap-for-water-reuse-in-the-uk/
6 Construction Industry Training Board (2025) Construction workforce outlook: Labour market intelligence report 2025–2029. https://www.citb.co.uk/cwo/index.html
7 Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (2023) Demand for plumbers set to soar as trade sector vacancies hit record highs. https://www.ciphe.org.uk/news-and-advice/news-articles/UK-Trade-Skills-Index-2023/
8 Ofwat (2025) Final determinations. https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/price-review/2024-price-review/final-determinations/
Featured header image: Plumber at work © ronstik via Adobe Stock
