Suffolk requires significant intervention to address future water shortages — predicted at more than 800 million litres per day by 2050.

In December, Water Resources East (WRE), a not-for-profit organisation initially established in 2014 by Anglian Water, published its Regional Water Resources Plan setting out the struggles water companies, residents, and businesses in Suffolk were likely to face by 2050.

The plan predicted a shortfall of 838 million litres per day by 2050 across public water supply and farming, a third of the region's water usage — updated predictions are expected when the next iteration of the report is finalised in 2028.

The report said: "Unless urgent action is taken by all sectors, the region will face severe water shortages. All of us as individuals and across sectors will need to use water more efficiently."

On Tuesday, the county council is set to discuss the impact of water availability on Suffolk's residents and businesses during a scrutiny committee meeting, including how best to support the agriculture industry.

Cllr Richard Rout, who is responsible for finance and environment, said although the council was not responsible for water supplies, it remained committed to supporting both water companies delivering them, Anglian Water and Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW).

Water companies have a duty to provide wholesome domestic supplies and non-household supplies where water is available. Capacity restraints can lead to a lack of supply to businesses in certain areas as is the case in the Hartismere supply zone, where ESW has a suspension in place until 2030.

Cllr Rout added: "We are very concerned about the potential economic impact of reduced water availability for businesses, especially our nationally important agricultural, food manufacturing, and drinks sectors. Water security is a crucial matter for Suffolk – future supply issues would affect all of us."

The WRE report called for upwards of £15bn in investment before 2050 to not only address the issues but enhance water resilience in the region.

A spokesperson for Anglian Water said a growing population and climate change were driving the shortfall in water supply.

They said: "As the driest region in the country, with a third less rainfall than anywhere else, our water resources are more vulnerable than most to the increasing impacts of climate change and a rapidly growing population.

"Climate change is causing more extreme weather and temperatures in Suffolk are set to increase by more than the national average as rainfall hits record lows."

Despite this, the spokesperson said steps were already being taken not only by helping customers use less water by, for instance, fitting smart meters into homes, but also investing in resilient infrastructure to prepare for the future.

Infrastructure projects planned by the company include a strategic water main spanning hundreds of kilometres, costing over £500m, which will bring water from the wetter north of the region to the south and east, as well as two new reservoirs in south Lincolnshire and the Fens, requiring £2bn of investment each.