This report by the Eastern Powerhouse for East Cambridgeshire District Council sets out a transformative local solution to water insecurity hindering growth in the Fens. It proposes establishing a network of mid-sized agricultural reservoirs that capture winter river flows via Internal Drainage Boards, storing six to seven million cubic metres of water for use during drier months. Delivered in under three years at a fraction of the cost of large reservoirs, these integrated catchment systems can unlock housing and economic development in Greater Cambridge, support regenerative agriculture, and enhance biodiversity through peatland rewetting and wetland restoration. The report identifies regulatory barriers—fragmented licences, inflexible investment cycles and limited powers for drainage boards—and calls for reform to empower place-based leadership, flexible trading of raw water and outcome-based regulation. By piloting this model, East Cambridgeshire aims to become a national exemplar of resilient, democratic water governance that aligns infrastructure and planning with environmental objectives.