Calls for urgent law change as UK’s largest water reuse system cannot be switched on

Recycling system in Cambridgeshire that could save thousands of litres a day is deemed not in line with rules

The largest water reuse system in the UK, which could save thousands of litres of water a day for people living in one of the driest regions of the country, is not allowed to be switched on because of drinking water regulations.

As water supplies in England reach critical levels, the Guardian can reveal that a model water recycling system within an urban housing development in Cambridgeshire has not been switched on since it was made ready in 2021.