Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID)

The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) was formed to help facilitate the development and funding of new, large-scale strategic water supply infrastructure by the water companies. RAPID is a partnership made up of three water regulators – Ofwat, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) and was set up in 2019. Overseen by RAPID, the industry is currently working on large cross-country projects that together would deliver enough water for 10 million people. These projects include schemes to transfer water from where there is enough, to where there is less; recycling and reusing water; and developing new reservoirs. Water companies are working together to develop these solutions, some of which could benefit more than one region. Current schemes are spread across the breadth of the country. The map below shows how water could be shared across the country if they all go ahead. #waterresilience #development #environment #water #infrastructure

In today’s Price Review announcement, Ofwat has allocated over £2 billion to progress the portfolio of RAPID schemes over the next five years – projects that will boost the security of our future water supply. We are expanding the number of RAPID solutions to a total of 28, up from 17 in the 2019 Price Review.   Development funding for RAPID solutions has increased since August's draft determinations, largely thanks to companies meeting our challenge to identify ways to de-risk their projects by bringing forward relevant spending. The uplift in RAPID funding in comparison to the last price review reflects how water companies are working at pace to develop options to secure our long-term water supply.    Alongside demand management work, this programme will allow us to respond to a growing population and the impacts of climate change, as well as protecting rivers and streams by leaving more water in the natural environment. The RAPID solutions will also boost the economy with an estimated £48 billion in total investment over the coming decades.   The map below shows the Strategic Resource Options in the RAPID programme.   Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dX5xwDrG Environment Agency Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI)

This insightful map from Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) shows how water recycling technology is already being applied by international partners to respond to a changing climate – with that trend set to significantly increase in the coming decades. With a number of water recycling schemes within our RAPID programme, we welcome the steps water companies are taking to explore how this technology can be applied in England and Wales. This will support us to build our resilience to drought, leave more water in the natural environment, and to expand the ways we can ensure our long-term water security. Explore the map further here: https://lnkd.in/dUzt4wrW Environment Agency Ofwat Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI)

We are pleased to announce that Stephen Slessor, CEO of RSE, has been appointed a strategic advisor for RAPID. RAPID was formed to help accelerate the development of new water infrastructure and design future regulatory frameworks. Stephen brings over two decades of experience in these sectors, and will play a key role in supporting the procurement and delivery of one of the largest water infrastructure investments in the UK for a generation. As the UK faces increasing challenges related to climate change and population growth, the need for resilient water infrastructure is greater than ever. RAPID aims to address these challenges through collaboration, innovation, and a focus on long-term sustainability. Stephen's advisory role will support RAPID in our mission to secure the UK's long-term water resilience, and will be key in shaping procurement strategies, engaging with the supply chain, and supporting the successful delivery of RAPID. This appointment highlights Ofwat's commitment to bringing together industry leaders to ensure the effective delivery of the UK's future water infrastructure. RAPID is a regulatory partnership between Ofwat, the Environment Agency, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).

We have published another document in our series of case studies which water companies are submitting to RAPID to provide information around the current solutions within the RAPID programme. This case study, developed by Severn Trent, Affinity Water and the Canal & River Trust, focuses on the Grand Union Canal Transfer Scheme (including Minworth Strategic Resource Option). This solution will offer up to 115Ml/d of additional water which can help to replace unsustainable groundwater abstraction and help support increased customer demand in times of drought/dry weather and population growth. The transfer may also be used to support neighbouring water companies in the short term, prior to the development of their own water resource solutions. Please keep an eye out for more case studies to come in the future. Read more about the case studies at: https://lnkd.in/eTzmsUma

Today Ofwat has published its Price Review 24 draft determinations. Here is what they mean for RAPID's work from 2025-30: The draft determinations are proposing to make available up to £1.21 billion to fund development expenditure costs for RAPID Strategic Resource Options (SROs) over the 2025-30 period. This 159% increase in funding when compared to Price Review 19 demonstrates a strong commitment to back the biggest package of water supply projects since the privatisation of the sector. As requested by the water companies, this funding will allow RAPID to expand our role helping the sector to respond to long-term water resource challenges while promoting the best interests of water users, society and the environment. We are asking water companies to identify further mitigating actions and enabling works that would prevent SRO delivery timelines from being delayed, such as early land acquisition or purchasing of raw materials that will be needed for construction. As a result, the overall funding for SRO development expenditure costs may be increased when the Price Review 24 final determinations are published in December. We are proposing to add four SROs to the RAPID programme, allowing them to benefit from additional regulatory support and oversight. Below is the latest map of the RAPID SROs, reflecting what is included in the draft determinations. These draft determinations are now out for consultation. We welcome engagement on the draft plans ahead of the final determinations being published. Read more about the Price Review 24 draft determinations: https://lnkd.in/e_efUgqU

As part of RAPID's continuous improvement efforts, we are keen to hear from our stakeholders on what we are doing well and what we can do better. If you engage with our team, we'd appreciate your feedback using this survey 👇 https://lnkd.in/g_S-rsCf This will help us make we are engaging effectively with our stakeholders. We will also use this information to help inform our Annual Progress Review. The survey should only take around 3 minutes to complete and all answers will be treated in confidence. The survey will be open until 5pm on 9 August. If you have any questions please contact the RAPID team at [email protected]

We are delighted to announce that we have appointed Camilla Born MBE and Andy Richardson as Non-Executive Directors to the RAPID Board. They will bring a diversity of thought and wider perspectives as we enter a new phase in Rapid's work, with a number of schemes moving towards formal planning and procurement. We have also appointed Keir Ferguson as our new Head of Communications, as we look to intensify our advocacy and engagement efforts alongside support for partner regulators and projects teams as we enter this new, exciting phase.

Today, we have published another document in our series of case studies which water companies will be submitting to RAPID to provide information around the current solutions within the RAPID programme.   This case study, developed by Anglian Water Services, focuses on the solution, Lincolnshire Reservoir. This reservoir, proposed in Anglian Water's draft Water Resource Management Plans 2024 (dWRMP24), could store up to 55 million cubic metres of water from nearby rivers, securing a resilient supply of water for people across Lincolnshire and the surrounding areas for many years to come.   Anglian Water is proposing to deliver the project under the Specified Infrastructure Projects Regulations (SIPR), subject to the statutory specification process, which would see the reservoir being competitively delivered by a third party Infrastructure Provider (IP).   To learn more about RAPID's preferred commercial models for competitively tendered projects, you can read 'Enabling new water resources – a consultation on commercial arrangements' here: https://lnkd.in/eysjQnCd   Please keep an eye out for more case studies to come soon.   Read more about the case studies at: https://lnkd.in/eTzmsUma

Today, we have published another document in our series of case studies which water companies will be submitting to RAPID to provide information around the current solutions within the RAPID programme.   This case study, developed by Thames Water, focuses on their solution the South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO), which is being developed in partnership with Affinity Water and Southern Water. This reservoir, proposed in Thames Water's draft Water Resource Management Plans 2024 (dWRMP24), could store up to 150 million cubic metres of water abstracted from the River Thames during periods of high flow, securing a resilient supply of water for customers across all three companies.   Thames Water is proposing to deliver the project under the Specified Infrastructure Projects Regulations (SIPR), subject to the statutory specification process, which would see the reservoir being competitively delivered by a third party Infrastructure Provider (IP).   To learn more about RAPID's preferred commercial models for competitively tendered projects, you can read 'Enabling new water resources – a consultation on commercial arrangements' here: https://lnkd.in/eysjQnCd   Please keep an eye out for more case studies to come soon.   Read more about the case studies at: https://lnkd.in/eTzmsUma