Water and sewerage are uniquely sensitive to the impacts of a changing climate. The water industry has been working hard on its response: from mitigating industry’s own carbon emissions, to managing the multi-decadal impact of increased rainfall, to preparing for increased algal blooms in water sources.
More than any other impact, though, we worry about the effects of changed rainfall and heat patterns on drought.
In 2016 we provided the first comprehensive national assessment of how much water we will need in the second half of the century, which has now shaped national and regional water resource plans for balancing long-term supply and demand. These plans are allowing us to develop £14billion of new schemes for storing and moving water around the country, in arrangements that were highly rated by the Climate Change Committee in its most recent assessment.
This year, though, is putting all of our work to the test.
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But not everyone is convinced……. From waterbriefing
Water companies under fire as dry weather continues and prospect of drought looms
As the extreme dry weather continues and the prospect of widespread drought looms, the water companies are the focus of a barrage of ongoing criticism – with leakage, executive pay and shareholder dividends topping the list of complaints.
Writing in The Telegraph newspaper, Environment Secretary George Eustice MP is calling for the introduction of more hosepipe bans as concerns over a period of extended drought grow.
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Meanwhile, UK rivers are on ‘red alert’ as water firms face call for more hosepipe bans. Campaigners say ‘our rivers are dying’ after driest July in England for more than 100 years. Read more. Companies with temporary use bans include South East Water, Southern Water and Welsh Water. More information on current restrictions is available from Water UK.
The Guardian reported that the source of the River Thames has dried out for the first time.
Download recent Utility Week report on Water efficiency: saving water. Money and the environment