England facing water shortages due to environmental threats

England is facing increased water pressures due to the combined challenges of a growing population, climate change, and unsustainable land use.

These are the key findings from a new report from the government’s Environment Agency, which looked at the state of the country’s water resources.

An astonishing 3 billion litres of water are also lost every day simply from leaks, equivalent to the amount used by 20 million people.

In 2016, 9.5 trillion litres of freshwater were extracted from the country’s rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, among others. However, both groundwater and surface water usage was seen to be at levels which weren’t sustainable in the long run.

Population in England alone (not including the rest of the UK) is expected to hit 58.5 million people by 2026, creating new pressures in areas where water availability is already under strain.

“Projections suggest that if no action is taken to reduce demand and increase supply of water, most areas will not meet demand by the 2050s,” warns the report.

“Even low population growth and modest climate change scenarios suggest significant water supply deficits by the 2050s, particularly in the south-east.”

Climate change is also impacting the timing and nature of rainfall in England, causing hotter summers and warmer, wetter winters. Rainfall during summer could also come in the form of shorter, bigger downpours, a situation where flooding and drought could exist at the same time.

The increased likelihood of drought and increased temperatures could also lead to the spread of diseases, such as dengue fever, carried by mosquitoes.

Unsustainable practices in the use of available land are also compounding water pressures:  increased urbanisation, draining wetlands, mining and agricultural practices all need to be managed more carefully and sustainably.

“It is not yet clear what the exact extent of some of the impacts will be. However there is strong evidence that action must continue to reduce demand, increase supply and minimise wasting of water to prevent future shortages and limit environmental damage,” the report concludes.

Earlier this year, the Environment Agency also launched a public campaign to raise awareness about the risks of flooding.