GMCA announces new plan for water management

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), in partnership with United Utilities and the Environment Agency, has unveiled a new strategy for water management in the city-region to ensure Greater Manchester’s preparedness for both flooding and droughts.

The Integrated Water Management Plan follows a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding agreed between GMCA and partners to manage water differently in the city-region so it is better able to cope with a changing climate and more frequent weather extremes.

During periods of extremely dry weather (as experienced in 2021 and 2022), water supplies in Greater Manchester come under increasing pressure. In storms, and with the city-region sitting in a natural bowl, heavy rainfall can see water levels rise rapidly, causing flood risk. Rainfall is expected to increase by 59% by 2050 even if climate targets are met, increasing the risk of pollution from rainfall entering and overwhelming the sewage infrastructure, with increased sewage outflow into waterways the subject of a recent enquiry by Stockport Council’s cabinet.

Greater Manchester’s new Integrated Water Management Plan was approved by GMCA on Friday 30th June, and sets out the city-region’s ambitions to:

• accelerate the implementation of natural flood management to reduce carbon emissions and improve resilience to weather extremes;
• reduce the operation of storm overflows to improve water quality by reducing contamination from sewers;
• factor in water management measures in future infrastructure projects through closer partnership with United Utilities;
• create new jobs, apprenticeships and skills opportunities through water management work.

Cllr Tom Ross, Greater Manchester Lead for Green City-region, said:

“Our climate is changing in front of our faces, and we cannot afford to ignore it and continue to see the consequences worsen in terms of flooding, pollution and drought. Local authorities in particular face an uphill struggle when it comes to managing drainage under these quickly changing conditions. We must adapt and make our city-region more resilient to longer periods of rainfall or dry weather – but we cannot do that alone.  

“The Combined Authority has worked in partnership with United Utilities over many years including pilot projects that find new ways to harness nature to improve our cities and rivers. We know that short-term solutions, tinkering at the edges or crossing our fingers and hoping for someone else to solve the problem, or waiting for it to go away, won’t solve the fundamental challenge of managing water differently. 

“It’s important we also see the opportunities presented to us and develop the skills needed to create good jobs in what will be a huge transformational project. 

“I’m delighted to be joining a partnership with United Utilities and the Environment Agency so we can put Greater Manchester on a path to better manage its water and rainfall in times of serious change, which will work alongside the progress we’re making to reduce carbon emissions and make our city region a greener place for all.” 

Louise Beardmore, CEO of United Utilities, said:

“We’re seeing the impact of changing weather patterns across the region with an increase in storms and surface water flooding, so it’s critical that we come together to manage these challenges. 

“It’s great to see the leadership being shown by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to drive forward action through this partnership. 

“Traditional engineered solutions are no longer the only option and we’re looking forward to working together to deliver projects to support more sustainable urban development and the cleaner rivers we all want to see.”

Ian Crewe, Area Director for the Environment Agency, in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire said:

“Our changing climate is causing warmer wetter winters and hotter drier summers meaning it is more important than ever to protect our water supplies and ensure we are resilient to risks such as flooding.

“But this cannot be done in isolation – which is why this partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and United Utilities is critical and a huge step forward in ensuring we create a great natural environment and respond to pressures that come with developments.

“Together we have a real opportunity to take an integrated approach to the challenges of water management and we look forward to the benefits this will bring.”

Greater Manchester’s Integrated Water Management Plan is available to read in full via the GMCA website.