Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that the water needs of data centres do not adversely impact the water supply to existing or future homes.

The Government recognises the need to improve the resilience of our water supplies and is committed to a twin track approach. This involves investing in new water supply infrastructure and action to reduce water company leaks and improve water efficiency.

It is a duty on water companies to maintain, improve and extend their water supply networks, to account of future water needs, such as those for data centres. Water companies are currently consulting on their draft statutory water resources management plans, which set out how they will continue to fulfil their supply duties and provide secure water supplies in the long term.