UK’s largest water-reuse scheme stalled by outdated drinking-water law

Cambridge Water built a sophisticated recycling network at the Eddington mixed-use development, intended to capture rainwater and treat grey-water for toilet flushing and other non-drinking purposes, potentially cutting household consumption to around 80 litres per person per day. Although the infrastructure has been ready since 2021, the Drinking Water Inspectorate halted its use, citing Section 70 of the 1991 Water Act and 2016 quality regulations that require all domestic water to be wholesome.

The decision arrives amid a summer drought that has forced hose-pipe bans across the region. Experts such as Lutz Johnen of the UK Water Reuse Association and housing minister Matthew Pennycook have called for urgent legislative reform, noting that similar systems have operated for decades in Belgium and Germany. The DWI has recently issued a framework recommending legal changes, and Defra is reviewing the guidance. Stakeholders say unlocking the Eddington scheme is critical to addressing a projected water-demand gap of 5 billion litres per day by 2055.