Water resources & drought resilience
Drought risk is increasing as climate change, population growth and competing water demands put pressure on water supplies. We support utilities, regulators and developers by assessing system vulnerability, guiding long‑term water planning and designing solutions that improve reliability. Our people combine science, engineering and modelling to help organisations secure sustainable, resilient water resources for communities and the environment.
Understanding climate pressures on water resources
Climate change is reshaping rainfall patterns, increasing the frequency and severity of droughts and altering river flows and groundwater recharge. These pressures make it harder to maintain reliable water supplies for households, agriculture, industry and ecosystems. Long‑term planning now requires scenario‑led evidence and a clear understanding of future extremes.
Supporting clients facing increasing water‑supply challenges
Water utilities and infrastructure owners must manage declining yields, ageing assets, water‑quality risks and growing demand. They need robust assessments of catchment behaviour, storage capacity, network performance and emergency response options. Organisations also face greater scrutiny from regulators and communities, requiring transparent, data‑driven decisions that protect both people and the environment.
How HR Wallingford helps build drought resilience
Our teams use advanced hydrological and hydraulic modelling, drought forecasting tools, field data and climate‑scenario analysis to understand system vulnerability. We evaluate river catchments, aquifers, reservoirs and transfer schemes to identify risks and opportunities. Our work supports strategic water‑resource planning, desalination and reuse feasibility, environmental flows, demand management programmes and investment decisions. We provide clear, independent evidence to help clients strengthen resilience across supply networks and regional systems.
Delivering sustainable and reliable outcomes for communities
We help organisations safeguard water supplies, adapt to future climate conditions and reduce the impact of drought on communities and the environment. Our insight supports resilient operations, regulatory compliance and sustainable long‑term planning. By working across catchments, infrastructure and future scenarios, we enable clients to secure dependable water for generations to come.
Water supply & drought resilience expertise
Assessment of rainfall, runoff, river flows and aquifer recharge to understand future water availability.
Tools and models to test system performance under climate extremes and long term scarcity.
Evaluation of reservoirs, transfers, aquifers and treatment capacity to improve supply reliability.
Evidence to balance abstraction with environmental protection during drought conditions.
Field measurement of flows, groundwater, water quality and catchment behaviour.
Insight to support network efficiency, leakage reduction and behavioural demand strategies.
Assessment of new supply options such as desalination, reuse, transfers and storage.
Support for operational readiness, contingency actions and regulatory compliance.
Get in touch
Chris Counsell
