Scaling water reuse and desalination in the UK
Is water resilience becoming economic resilience?
Last week, GHD hosted a strategic roundtable, convening global specialists and leaders from across the UK water sector to discuss one of the industry’s most pressing long-term challenges: how to scale water reuse and desalination to meet future demand.
Held under the Chatham House Rule, the discussion explored the UK’s readiness for reuse and desalination, the barriers slowing adoption, and the role these technologies may play in strengthening national water resilience over the coming decades.
Although the discussion started with water infrastructure, it soon expanded to a much broader scope. A key recurring point was that water resilience is increasingly linked to economic resilience.
As pressure mounts from population growth, climate change, industrial demand and digital infrastructure, participants noted that water availability is no longer simply an environmental or operational issue. It is becoming a strategic growth issue.
AI growth is exposing Britain’s hidden water challenge
One of the clearest areas of focus was the relationship between water and emerging industries such as AI and hyperscale data centres.
While public discussion around AI infrastructure often centres on power demand, the roundtable highlighted another growing challenge: water.
Data centres are highly water-intensive, particularly where cooling systems require water. As investment in AI capabilities accelerates globally, questions are emerging about how future infrastructure can be supported in regions already facing increasing pressure on water resources.
The discussion explored whether desalination and water reuse could serve as enabling infrastructure for future economic growth, particularly in the industrial and digital sectors.
A 20th century water system carrying a 21st Century economy
Participants also reflected on how the water system supporting the UK today was largely designed for a very different economy and a very different climate.
Alongside technical capability, there was significant discussion around public trust, regulation and societal acceptance.
While reuse and desalination are already established internationally, participants acknowledged that public confidence remains one of the biggest challenges facing wider adoption in the UK.
The discussion touched on the tension between growing water demand and public concerns about pollution, leakage and trust in water infrastructure more broadly.
Several attendees noted that while the technical solutions increasingly exist, successfully scaling them will also require long-term engagement, transparency, and confidence-building with customers, regulators, and communities.
Desalination is not just an environmental discussion; it’s an economic one
Another major theme emerging from the session was the role industrial reuse may play in accelerating adoption.
Participants discussed how industrial applications, including manufacturing and digital infrastructure, could provide an important bridge towards wider acceptance of reuse technologies by demonstrating reliability, resilience and practical value at scale.
International examples were also referenced throughout the conversation, including approaches already being adopted in Australia and parts of southern Europe, where desalination and reuse are increasingly viewed as part of long-term resilience planning rather than emergency contingency measures.
The roundtable formed part of GHD’s ongoing work supporting clients and stakeholders across the water sector as the UK continues to navigate increasing pressure on resources, infrastructure and long-term resilience planning.
The session also reinforced the importance of collaborative industry dialogue as organisations continue to balance environmental priorities, economic growth and future water security.
As discussions closed, one point was clear: the conversation around water reuse and desalination is no longer just about infrastructure delivery.
It is increasingly about how the UK supports future growth, builds resilience and prepares for a more resource-constrained future.
GHD would like to thank all attendees for contributing to an open and constructive discussion. Further strategic roundtables exploring major infrastructure and resilience challenges are planned in the coming months.
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About GHD
GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 12,000+ professionals is connected across 165 offices located on five continents.