Our water system is broken. We need to Fix Water
Water connects us all. It’s time our water system caught up. Dirty rivers and seas. Water shortages. Flooding. Drought. These are not separate problems.
Water is one connected cycle, but too many decisions about it are still made separately. We believe there is a better way. Join us in calling for a water system that works for people, communities and nature.
We want to see a Somerset where rivers are clean and healthy, wetlands and peatlands are thriving, communities are resilient to flooding and drought, wildlife is recovering, water is managed as one connected system, and decisions are made for long-term public benefit.
Fix Water has three simple asks
Fix Water aims to change the way water is managed.
Rainfall, groundwater, rivers, chalk streams, wetlands, reservoirs, drinking water, wastewater and the sea are all connected. What happens in one place can affect the whole water cycle.
But decisions about water supply, pollution, sewage, flooding, drought, farming, housing and nature are often made separately. This makes it harder to solve the challenges facing our water.
Fix Water is calling for a joined-up approach based on three clear principles.
Manage water as one connected system
Water doesn’t recognise organisational or political boundaries. Decisions and actions on water supply, pollution, flooding, drought, land management and development, need to be considered holistically
Make water work for all of us
Water is vital for people and wildlife. How we manage it should ensure clean, dependable water, support healthy communities, protect the environment and serve the public good
Make nature part of the solution
Healthy rivers and streams, wetlands and floodplains help hold water in the landscape, reduce flooding, improve water quality and support wildlife, while helping us adapt to a changing climate
What you can do:
Raise your hand
Join us in calling for a water system that works for people, communities and nature.
Write to your MP
Demand a better system for nature and people
What is the Water Bill?
The UK Government has proposed new law that could change how the water system works in England: the Water Bill. The Bill is expected to be introduced to Parliament in early 2027.
See below for information about the stages it will move through, which could help with effective campaign actions during each stage...
Nature-based solutions must be part of the answer
There is no need to choose between traditional engineering and nature. Somerset needs both. Flood defences, pumps, sluices and other engineered infrastructure will always play an important role, particularly in a highly managed landscape like the Somerset Levels.
But engineering alone cannot build long-term resilience.
Nature-based solutions help slow, store and filter water across the landscape. Wetlands, floodplains, healthy peatlands and restored rivers can reduce flood risk while improving water quality, storing carbon, helping wildlife recover and increasing resilience to drought.
Research commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts found that Natural Flood Management schemes delivered an average return of £4.47 for every £1 invested over ten years, rising to £10.79 for every £1 invested over thirty years when wider environmental and social benefits were taken into account.
The most resilient water systems combine the strengths of engineering and nature.
How we're working in Somerset to fix water
The National Trust's catchment project
Healthy peatlands acting as giant natural sponges
Recognising the rights of the River Brue
Fixing water is about more than tackling pollution or preventing floods. It's about restoring the whole water cycle for people, nature and future generations.