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The winter of 2014 was the wettest on record, and as whole areas were flooded the capacity of drains and sewers was overwhelmed. But it is important to remember that the floods came a year after two consecutive years of drought. Water, like many other sectors, faces a huge challenge to adapt to these impacts of climate change.

100,000 kilometres of England’s sewer pipes were built before the mid-1960s and use an old-fashioned design that carries two kinds of waste: rainwater from street drains, and sewage from homes.

They are therefore known as ‘combined’ sewers. Combined sewers were built many decades before modern rates of population growth and climate change were understood, which means that there is often now more sewage and rainwater going into these systems than first envisaged.

Many commentators have pointed out that, despite the rise of the Green Party as a force in national politics, the environment has not been a mainstream issue during this election campaign. At a time of austerity, it’s argued, voters see concern about environmental issues as a marginal issue, which pales into insignificance compared to worries about jobs, homes and health. And yet the predictions are more alarming than ever.

Figures released from Defra show that this year, 605 out 610 bathing sites met the mandatory standards set by the European Commission. The water industry plays a key role in keeping beaches free from pollution by ensuring that water returned to the environment is as clean as possible.

The Environment Agency’s declaration of a drought for parts of the country underscores the severity of the current situation