Fresh Water At A Premium In England And Wales

The Environment Agency has warned Britain that its water usage is causing a tremendous strain on the country’s resources of fresh water.

Research has shown that 50% of houses in England and Wales are in areas where there will be more demand for fresh water than there is supply.

This is worst in the warmer South East of England, where over 10 million people have less water available per person than in such hot and dry countries as Egypt and Morocco.

This has led to a dramatic draining of lakes, streams and estuaries in some areas.

10% of the UK’s fresh water supply is drained for human use, but in drier areas, such as the South East, this can rise to as high as 22%.

Such drainage is putting a strain on our resources and endangering wildlife such as fish and fresh water birds, it is claimed.

It is thought that huge savings can be made by people not wasting water, which has brought calls for more water meters to be put into place, charging people for the amount of water they use rather than just a set amount.

Statistics show that homes with a water meter use 13% less water than those without, suggesting that such measures would help provide part of a solution to tackling a water shortage.

Currently only 30% of homes in England and Wales have a water meter fitted.

With climate change models showing that Britain is likely to be enjoying more dry summers as years progress, there is an increased call for meters to be fitted to homes at a faster rate, to help ensure our water supplies for the dry months.