The Environment Agency has warned there will be water supply shortages by 2050 unless water efficiency measures are taken now.
Environment Agency warns of water deficits for England
The Environment Agency produced a document in May 2018 that warns there will be water supply shortages by 2050 unless water efficiency measures are taken now.
The study is available here and in the documents section below.
The report acknowledges that "even low population growth and modest climate change scenarios suggest significant water supply deficits by the 2050's, particularly in the south-east".
The summary below provides an overview of the present situation in the UK.
The Environment Agency also state that groundwater extraction is not at a sustainable level for almost a fifth of surface waters and more than a quarter of groundwater bodies.
The Agency point out that water is a precious resource necessary for a healthy environment and we need to work together to manage supplies.
Water UK support this comment by saying it is everyone’s issue and we all need to do our bit.
Population growth and changing rainfall and temperature profiles exacerbate the water scarcity problems caused by leakages and the way we waste water.
The full article from the BBC from 23rd May 2018 can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44215418
Please let us know if you have any news stories on water or related issues that you would like to share. Email carbon@milton-keynes.gov.uk with your information.
- Environment Agency State of the Environment -Water Resources [pdf | 1,15Mb]
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Ian Byrne
05/02/2019
9 billion litres of water abstracted a year, comes to around 130,000 litres per person per annum assuming 70 million people in the UK. That works out at around 350 litres per person per day. I presu...
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Laila Behmeleit
01/02/2019
You have new comments.
click here to load them.How do the numbers stack up?
Ian Byrne
This is super scary....but still so far away...2050..hard to imagine...!
Laila Behmeleit