Water Resources Management
Water Resources Planner, Water Resources Engineer, Abstraction Licensing Officer, Demand Forecaster, Water Resources Analyst, Water Resources Economist, Hydrologist, Hydrogeologist, Hydroecologist

The Sector
Water resources management ensures that reliable water supplies meet human needs but also protects the environment. A clean, reliable water supply is vital for human health and also contributes to economic development through its use in commerce, industry and agriculture. While the UK is often considered to have a wet climate, our high population density and natural environment means that there are conflicting demands for water. Water resources management considers the availability of water, which involves understanding how much water is in rivers and groundwater and how this needs to be managed to protect the environment.

The Sector Profile
The sector employs around 1500 people in the UK, mainly in government agencies, water companies and environmental and engineering consultancies. While numbers employed in water companies are fairly stable, there is slow growth in the public sector and in consultancy. Female engineers account for approximately 20%of the profession and tend to be more highly represented in entry level posts.

Issues and Trends
Water resources are under increasing pressure through population growth, smaller households, increased affluence and different water use habits. In much of the south, there is little new water available for abstraction so meeting future demand will require innovative solutions. Collaborative approaches will become increasingly important, and negotiating skills may be as important as technical knowledge.

Industrial demand for water is falling, reflecting both a change in the industrial base and increased efficiency in industrial processes. However, people also expect enhanced protection of the natural environment, and EU regulations such as the Habitats Directive and the Water Framework Directive mean that some water company abstractions have to be modified.

To find out CIWEM’s recommendations to improve water efficiency, go to www.ciwem.org/policy/policies/efficiency.asp and find out climate change is affecting our water resources, go to www.ciwem.org/policy/policies/climate_change_and_water.asp.

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