While it may sound strange talking about drought when the UK is currently undergoing storms and flooding, the growing risk of drought in England and Wales is a future reality, according to research conducted on the possible effects of climate change, population growth, environmental protection measures and trends in water usage.

According to new research commissioned by Water UK; carried out by independent consultants and peer reviewed by leading experts in water resources, and published recently by the water industry, an effective response to the significant risk of drought is possible if concerted action is taken urgently. The research broke new ground by deploying new modelling techniques and looking fifty years into the future across the length and breadth of England and Wales.

According to the results, some regions will be facing longer, and more acute droughts more frequently than previously thought. The south and east of England, which is normally drier, face a higher risk of more severe droughts than previously experienced, and areas to the north and west will be more exposed to water shortages.

Extensive measures to manage demand and enhance supplies of water will be required to contain the future risk of drought, including:

  • The promotion of more efficient use of water in businesses and homes via improved building standards and widespread use of smart metering;
  • Better control of leakages from water mains;
  • More water being treated for re-use;
  • Building more reservoirs;
  • Better infrastructure and new pipelines; and
  • The construction of desalination plants to make use of sea water;

According to the report, it all of the above is done on a step-by-step basis, the cost per household will be a negligible £4 per annum per household. Not attending to the problems as soon as possible on the other hand, would end up costing the economy an estimated £1.3 billion per day during the most widespread situations of severe drought modelled in the report.

Get water coolers and water cooler accessories from Living-Water.