A growing number of fire and rescue services across the UK are being forced to alter emergency response plans because of inadequate water supplies, according to new evidence published by the National Fire Chiefs Council.
The warning comes as the NFCC releases its new Water Supplies for Firefighting Position Statement, highlighting concerns over the reliability, affordability and resilience of the water infrastructure relied upon by firefighters to protect communities.
A survey carried out by the NFCC during summer 2026 found that 81% of UK fire and rescue services have modified their planned response levels in areas where access to sufficient firefighting water is problematic.
More than half of respondents also reported introducing additional operational measures as a result of significant water supply outages.
The findings raise concerns about the ability of fire services to respond effectively as incidents become increasingly complex, particularly against the backdrop of climate change, extreme weather events and rising population growth.
The operational consequences of inadequate water provision were brought into sharp focus during this summer’s major wildfire in Stourbridge.
West Midlands Fire Service experienced persistent water pressure issues over several days while tackling the incident. At the height of the emergency, firefighters were forced to deploy a High Volume Pumping Unit to help maintain water supplies.
Reduced pressure within the network meant that replenishing a water carrier took almost 40 minutes at one stage, creating additional challenges for crews on the ground. Water company representatives were subsequently deployed to the scene and participated in multi-agency briefings as fluctuating supplies continued to impact operations.
Fire and rescue services across the UK have reported a range of concerns regarding firefighting water infrastructure, including:
- Inadequate hydrant flow rates and water pressure
- Delays to hydrant installation and repairs
- Inconsistent engagement from water companies
- Rising maintenance and replacement costs
- Limited visibility of water network information during incidents
NFCC data shows that hydrant installation and maintenance charges increased by an average of 85% between 2014 and 2024, with many services questioning the transparency behind those costs.
The NFCC is urging policymakers and regulators to formally recognise firefighting water supplies as a critical public safety requirement.
The organisation also wants fire and rescue services to be given a stronger voice in future water sector regulation, investment planning and infrastructure development.
National Fire Chiefs Council Chair, Phil Garrigan, said:
“Firefighters cannot fight fires without water. That sounds obvious, yet our evidence shows four in five fire and rescue services have had to change response plans because of concerns about firefighting water supplies.
“We saw the impact of these challenges during the Stourbridge wildfires, where issues with water pressure created additional operational difficulties for crews tackling a major incident.
“The demands on fire and rescue services are growing, with larger wildfires, extreme weather and increasingly complex risks. As the task becomes more challenging, the very least firefighters should be able to rely on is access to the water they need to protect people and property.”
The NFCC position statement warns that increasing pressure from climate change, drought conditions, housing growth and new energy-intensive developments is placing greater strain on water infrastructure.
Emerging technologies and facilities, including data centres and battery energy storage systems, are expected to increase demand further, adding to existing pressures on already stretched networks.
The NFCC is calling for:
- National standards for firefighting water provision
- Stronger accountability measures for water companies
- Greater transparency around hydrant maintenance charges
- Improved consideration of firefighting water needs within planning decisions
- Better access to water network information for emergency responders
Fire chiefs believe upcoming reforms to the water sector present a critical opportunity to strengthen resilience and ensure firefighting requirements are fully reflected in future infrastructure investment and planning decisions.
Image credit: iStock
