Bold plans tabled by Trafford Council’s leading Labour politician that could see an overhaul to Greater Manchester’s water management systems have been approved.

During a meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) last week, Cllr Tom Ross presented his first paper to the committee tilted: Integrated Water Management Plan.

The radical document was labelled ‘ground-breaking’ by colleagues and will be used to transform the way water is managed across the city-region in addition to tackling climate change.

The move comes after the GMCA agreed to partnership working with United Utilities and Environment Agency after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) back in 2021.

Essentially, all parties have agreed to work together in a bid to make the environment cleaner and greener for everyone.

Furthermore, the goal is to manage the regions water in times of flooding or during prolonged dry spells much more sustainably moving forward.

Lead Member for the Green City-Region, Cllr Ross, welcomed the report and acknowledged that the GMCA was leading the way on this very important issue.

Cllr Ross added: “The management of water has been in the news a lot in recent weeks and months and colleagues will be aware that in 2021, a MOU was signed between the authority, Environment Agency, and United Utilities.

“The plan will help accelerate the implementation of natural flood management interventions in key locations.

“This will help reduce carbon emissions, improve our resilience to climate change, and benefit nature, the environment and improve the quality of our towns and cities.”

Plans also include preventing rainwater from entering combined water systems resulting in improved water quality.

Moving forward, the partnership will also look to the government, regulator Ofwat and other industry representatives to provide solutions that will also deliver real change. 

Further information can be accessed here: https://democracy.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/documents/s27343/10A%20Integrated%20Water%20Management%20Plan.pdf