Building Resilience: How Simple Engineering Can Help Alleviate the Reservoir Crisis
Across the UK, our reservoirs are looking worryingly low. In some areas, water levels are more than a quarter below where they should be at this time of year. It’s the kind of headline that grabs attention – photos of cracked earth and empty shorelines – but we all know by now that the story runs deeper than a hot summer or a dry spell. It’s a sure-fire sign that our water system is under pressure and it’s way past time we start thinking differently about how we use and protect this vital resource.
Why are reservoirs struggling?
There isn’t one simple answer. Weather patterns are changing: drier springs, hotter summers, sudden downpours that disappear down drains instead of soaking into the ground. On top of that, the UK population is growing and every year demand for water increases in our homes, workplaces and across industries like construction. Add in the leaks that plague an ageing network and it’s no surprise our reservoirs are struggling to keep up.
When supply and demand fall out of balance, reservoirs are the first to show the strain. That can mean hosepipe bans which we’ve seen plenty of this summer, higher costs for industry and environmental damage to rivers and wetlands. But more than that, it chips away at public confidence that water will always be there when we turn the tap.
The role of construction
For construction, water scarcity isn’t just an abstract problem. Sites depend on reliable water access and future developments need to be built with efficiency in mind. Regulations are already moving in that direction, setting tougher standards for per capita consumption. Developers who plan ahead will be better placed to meet those requirements and to build homes and communities that can cope with the pressures ahead.
What can we do differently?
As much as we’d like to, we can’t make it rain but we can change the way we manage and use the water we already have. The UK government has set out targets to reduce household consumption by 20% over the next decade. Ambitious, yes. But achievable if we make smarter choices about the systems and products we put in place today.
This is where we at Groundbreaker have been focusing our efforts for years. Our LoFlo® is a small piece of kit that quietly makes a big difference. By managing water flow into a property, it helps households cut consumption without anyone having to change their daily routines. It’s simple, effective and it supports water companies and developers in hitting efficiency targets.
Our water management system is about more than a single product — it’s a smarter way to bring water onto new developments (or retrofit where needed) with reliability and efficiency built in. By centralising control, flow regulation and metering in an accessible, above-ground unit, it reduces the risk of leaks, simplifies maintenance, and makes it easier to monitor and manage water use.
Because every component is designed for durability, the system continues to perform optimally for decades, preventing unnecessary water loss and avoiding repeated replacements. The impact isn’t just at one property – when deployed across streets, neighbourhoods, and entire developments, it adds up to a tangible reduction in demand on local water networks and helps ease the pressure on reservoirs during dry periods.
Working together
None of this works in isolation. Water companies, regulators, developers, engineers…everyone has a role to play. From our perspective, the most progress happens when collaboration takes the lead. Saving water doesn’t always mean radical new inventions; often it’s the simple, reliable engineering solutions – the ones that just keep working, year after year – that make the biggest difference.
Looking ahead
Reservoir levels will always rise and fall with the seasons but water scarcity is here to stay. The challenge now is how quickly we can build resilience into the system. That means combining the big infrastructure projects with the quieter, everyday solutions that help reduce demand and cut waste.
We’ve always believed in practical answers: engineering that reduces water use, prevents leakage and supports long-term sustainability. Because every litre saved today helps make sure tomorrow’s reservoirs are a little fuller. And our future supply a little more secure.
Please do get in touch if you want to discuss our system and how it might work for your project.