Looking out the window at the endless rainy skies of February it is hard to imagine that the UK is lacking in water. But it is, and the issue of water scarcity is going to increase as climate change takes effect.
The UK government predicts that public water supplies will be short of 5 billion litres of water a day by 2055 with an additional 1 billion litres of water needed in the wider economy. Agriculture is the biggest consumer of water in the UK, using water for irrigation, livestock and aquaculture – food production. Industry is next, using water for cooling, processing and cleaning. Water is crucial for energy production. It’s used for cooling in power plants and hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas (Everflow Utilities).
In January, the United Nations published a report on global ‘water bankruptcy’ indicating that some countries and cities are “living beyond their hydrological means”. Globally, droughts, water shortages and pollution incidents are causing water crises. But river basins and aquifers have lost the ability to bounce back and restore themselves. As repeated crises become chronic, the area enters water bankruptcy. The report found that “over half of the world’s largest cities are experiencing high levels of water stress (including London).” Some areas in the UK are already ‘water poor’ including Sussex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk.
The UN report called on governments to protect remaining groundwater sources. They want governments to manage the existing water resources that are in crisis, as if they are in crisis. Instead of ignoring the ‘new normal’ when a water source is no longer able to restore itself to historical levels, they need to manage it differently, more carefully. And, even if the UK manages its own resources well, it is likely to be called on to support water-scarce countries as the crisis deepens.
Water scarcity will have an impact on goods & services, driving prices up and potentially causing some goods & services to go out of production.
How can you as a business save water?
Reduce leakages – fix water leaks as soon as possible. A leaky tap can leak as much as 90 litres of water a day. Also, Ofwat is asking water companies to reduce leakages by 50% before 2050 – lobby your water company if they are not taking action.
Install a smart meter – contact your local water retailer and ask for a smart meter to be installed. Automated Meter Readings or Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is being rolled out by some water companies.
Retrofit water efficient fixtures – install water efficient taps, toilets, and waterless urinals. Taps that turn themselves off will prevent wastage when someone forgets. Engage employees in the campaign to save water.
Harvest rainwater – recycle and reuse water whenever possible. If yours is a catering or industrial business that can use a closed loop cooling system, install one. For example, Denby Pottery has installed a water recycling plant that purifies 20 million litres of water every year.
The UK is facing increasing water scarcity and potentially water bankruptcy as climate change impacts on weather patterns. Poorly managed water systems and increasing usage will combine to make water a scarce resource. Given our dependence on water for food production, manufacturing, and energy production we need to take action.
Join Blue Patch to find out more ways you can make your business more environmentally friendly. We run a free training course on carbon reduction and regular meetings with chartered environmentalist Alice Doyle – one of our sessions last year was about water conservation in business.
