Increasingly unpredictable weather is highlighting the need for greater operational flexibility and accelerating the shift towards managed services, writes Tony Gwynne, leakage solutions director, Ovarro.
With almost three-quarters of England still officially in drought, the UK government is urging water companies to maintain momentum on leakage reduction - while preparing for the challenges of winter.
At a meeting of the National Drought Group, led by the Environment Agency, in September 2026, chief executives were asked to provide updates on leakage reduction, as well as their autumn and winter preparedness plans.
Data shared during the session revealed that recent rainfall has not been enough to replenish water resources, following the hottest summer on record, and almost three-quarters of England remained in drought.
While companies continue their drought response, they must simultaneously prepare for winter challenges, including flooding and freezing conditions which can cause outbreaks of pipe bursts and leaks.
These increasingly volatile weather patterns show the need for operational flexibility. Against this backdrop, momentum continues to build behind managed...
Flexible managed services strengthen weather resilience
