From Concrete to Reeds, Flood Control Takes a Turn

Anglian Water blends automation and nature to curb floods and pollution, offering a climate-ready model for utilities under pressure

27 Apr 2025

Floods are getting fiercer, rainstorms more erratic, and the old rules of water management no longer hold. In eastern England, Anglian Water is responding with an approach that feels both high-tech and quietly ancient: let machines think ahead, and let nature do some of the heavy lifting.

Under its AMP7 investment program, the utility is rolling out modular storm tanks designed to absorb sudden surges of water. Each tank can hold vast volumes, but the real innovation sits inside. Sensors and automated controls track weather forecasts and water levels, releasing flows only when conditions allow. Instead of reacting after the rain hits, the system anticipates what is coming.

That intelligence is paired with nature-based infrastructure. Treatment wetlands, bioswales, and other green installations now sit within the wider network, filtering runoff before it reaches rivers. Early trials show these systems stripping out a large share of nutrients before discharge, while creating new habitats and easing stress on downstream ecosystems.

“This isn’t just about meeting today’s rules,” said one Anglian Water infrastructure manager. “It’s about building systems that can adapt as the climate keeps changing.”

There is a financial logic, too. By standardizing designs, the company has cut build costs by 20%, and remote monitoring has reduced manual maintenance and emergency callouts. For a region exposed to both drought and flooding, efficiency is not a luxury.

Partners are central to the effort. Xylem supplies the sensors, pumps, and control platforms that keep the system responsive. Stantec brings expertise in ecological design and hydrological planning, ensuring that engineered assets and living landscapes work in sync.

Across Europe, utilities face tougher rules on sewer overflows and pollution. Anglian Water’s hybrid model, blending predictive automation with natural treatment, points to a way forward.

As storms grow less predictable, this mix of silicon and soil may define the next chapter of flood defense. For now, Anglian Water is proving that smarter systems can still work with nature, not against it.