A strategy for water

Hamish Somerville, Global Sector Director – Water and Environment, reflects on challenges facing decision makers in the water industry.
 
Q. What do you see as the current big issues relating to water?
 
Population and development pressures are recurring themes that impact different parts of the world in different ways. Urban centres in a number of the more developed countries have significant issues with the maintenance of ageing infrastructure.
 
Overlaid on these challenges, we have the effects of climate change and changing weather patterns. Broadly speaking, this means dealing with too much or too little water in specific locations and the strain these factors exert on existing infrastructure.
 
Q. How do we solve some of these problems?
 
They can’t all be solved quickly and easily, particularly when you factor in the current scarcity of experienced water sector advisors and engineers around the world. The key is that we need to be putting a greater emphasis on the maintenance, sustainability and resilience of future water and wastewater infrastructure.
 
When it comes to development, those responsible have to consider all elements of the water cycle far more strategically. We have to incorporate solutions like more sustainable drainage systems and green roofs as means of regulating stormwater. On the supply side, resource efficiency measures, such as metering, leakage reduction, and water re-use are all areas where we are currently working with clients.
 
Q. What do you think consultants have to offer?
 
Consultants have to be able to see the world from the client’s point of view – advising them and helping them to foresee, plan for and address issues related to efficient water supply and management. We should be aiming to bring our experience of what is working well elsewhere to their particular situation. At Hyder, our international offices operate as a global team and resource to the rest of the business. So, for example, the skills we have developed working with water providers in various parts of the world will help shape more robust capital investment programmes.
 
Q. What skills do the water consultants of the future need?
 
A key skill will be the ability to see the bigger picture. Many of the problems we are facing in the future require integrated solutions across all stages of the water cycle. The ability to understand how the challenges are interlinked is very important.