England issued a terrifying tap water warning (Image: Getty)
Brits are being urged to use less water as England faces a potential daily shortfall of five billion litres by 2055, according to the Environment Agency figures. Weather patterns are also expected to affect water availability in Wales, despite its rainy climate.
Experts at the Met Office explained that more rainfall doesn’t automatically mean more usable water due to climate change. Professor Lizzie Kendon, strategic head of climate processes and projections at the Met Office, explained: “Climate change is driving increasingly extreme weather patterns, with wetter winters, drier summers, and more intense bursts of rainfall. When rain falls on dry, hardened ground, much of it cannot soak into the soil where it is most valuable, instead it runs off and is being lost.”
Jeff Brazier (Image: Let’s Save Water)
She added: “This growing imbalance is placing mounting pressure on our water resources, and there is an urgent need for action. By acting now and embracing small, everyday changes, we can help safeguard this precious resource for future generations.”
Regulators and water companies have launched a four-year Let’s Save Water campaign across England and Wales to raise awareness of the water shortfall and encourage behaviour changes to protect the supply, from taking shorter showers to fixing dripping taps.
The launch has been kicked off with a short film, Water: A Shared Challenge with Jeff Brazier, which explores the growing threat of water scarcity.
The campaign suggests simple swaps, such as using a bowl for washing up instead of running the tap, using a watering can instead of a hose, using eco settings and installing water-saving shower heads or dual-flush toilets.
It comes after a YouGov survey found people were vastly unaware of their water usage, across 3,121 adults in England and Wales. On average, people believed they use around 30 litres a day, compared to actual usage of around 140 litres.
Water Minister Emma Hardy said: “Water is one of our most precious resources and in many parts of England we are using it faster than it can naturally be replenished.
“Droughts are becoming longer and more common due to climate change, exacerbating water shortages that can have a devastating impact on our environment.
“Meeting this challenge will require action from all of us. The Government is taking decisive measures to secure supplies, including supporting the construction of nine new reservoirs, but other simple behaviour changes can make a real difference.”
Water companies are investing billions to upgrade infrastructure, including fixing leaks and developing new sources such as reservoirs. However, experts suggested these measures will not fully close the gap between the projected supply and demand.
Chris Walters, chief executive at Ofwat, said: “Investment in new infrastructure and reducing leaks is essential, but lasting resilience also depends on changing our relationship with water and becoming stewards of our natural environment.
“This campaign is about helping people understand that water is a finite resource and that valuing it more highly today will help secure reliable supplies and protect the environment for the long term.”