A number of specific water-related risks are among the 89 threats in the latest National Risk Register (NRR) published today which sets out the government’s latest assessment of key risks to the United Kingdom.

The Register, which forms part of ongoing cross government work to better prepare the public and businesses for the threats facing the country, outlines 89 threats that would have a significant impact on the UK’s safety, security or critical systems at a national level. The threat to global energy supplies is one of the new publicly listed risks in the 2023 Register.

Launching the NRR, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

“This is the most comprehensive risk assessment we’ve ever published, so that government and our partners can put robust plans in place and be ready for anything.”

The latest version of the NRR publicly shares previously classified information about a number of potential risks, including:

• disruption to energy supplies following Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine
• malicious uses of drones to disrupt transport and other critical operations
• threats to undersea transatlantic telecommunications cables used for internet and communications

The Register identifies a number of specific water-related risks, including:

• water infrastructure failure or loss of drinking water
• storms
• high temperatures and heatwaves
• ow temperatures and snow
• coastal flooding
• fluvial flooding
• surface water flooding
• drought
• reservoir or dam collapse
• major maritime pollution incident

It also highlights the secondary impacts of other risks – for example nationwide loss of power - across critical utilities networks, including mobile and internet telecommunications, water, sewage, fuel and gas). These would cause significant and widespread disruption to public services provisions, businesses and households, as well as loss of life.

“Water companies in England are required to plan for disruptive scenarios and would seek to use a number of mitigations"

Water companies, the Environment Agency and Lead Local Flood Authorities are among the organisations tasked with specific responsibilities for managing water-related risks.

Commenting on response capability requirements for water infrastructure failure or loss of drinking water, the NRR states:

“Water companies in England are required to plan for disruptive scenarios and would seek to use a number of mitigations including rezoning of their network, tankering water from alternative treatment sites, the use of mutual aid from other water companies and the provision of an alternative water supply to affected consumers as soon as possible, but within 24 hours. Alternative water would be prioritised to vulnerable consumers and sites with larger numbers of vulnerable individuals (such as prisons and care homes). Water is a devolved matter and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have equivalent requirements in place.

“Water companies would support the local response, which would be coordinated by the local resilience forum and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should a national response be required.”

For the first time the NRR is accompanied by an online digital tool intended to make risk details more accessible and easier to navigate.

According to Deputy National Security Advisor, Matt Collins, a comprehensive understanding of the risks we face is critical to keeping the UK safe and the new edition of the NRR, based on the Government’s internal, classified risk assessment offers even more detail on the potential scenarios, response and recovery options relating to the risks facing the UK; ranging from terrorism to conflicts and natural disasters.

Resilience First Chair and Board Director, Rick Cudworth, said:

“We welcome the new National Risk Register - it’s a vital resource to improving the UK’s resilience and it really delivers on providing greater transparency as well as a developed and shared understanding of the risks we all face. Providing invaluable information, this document gives us the power to invest, prepare, and respond more effectively. With more detail than previously, and specific scenarios, assumptions and response capabilities set out, we encourage organisations and resilience professionals to use it to stress test and strengthen their own resilience as we all move forwards together.”

Head of Risk Management Policy at independent think tank The Centre for Long-Term Resilience James Ginns commented:

“We welcome the publication of a more transparent National Risk Register which recognizes the increasingly volatile risk environment we face, the imperative to increase our preparedness, and the pandemic risk posed by novel pathogens. It’s encouraging that the government is committed to further assessing and mitigating vulnerabilities to acute risks. We look forward to supporting their work in identifying and assessing chronic risks and related vulnerabilities, especially in AI and biosecurity, in order to reinforce our resilience.”

Click here to download the National Risk Register 2023

Click here to access the National Risk Register online digital tool