Reducing Water Wastage in the UK

According to the Environment Agency in 2050 the UK will be hot and getting hotter! UK temperatures, as with most countries in the higher latitudes, are predicted to increase by slightly more than the global mean. Relative to early 20 century levels, average British temperatures have already increased by about 1º, and are expected to increase by a total of 3 to 4.5°C by 2080.

• By 2020, twice as many days will exceed 25º in London each summer; by 2050, there will be three to five times as many hot days.

• Extreme storms and flooding in the UK are also likely to become more frequent and more severe. By 2080 the annual cost of flooding in the UK could be £22 billion, or fifteen times what it is today.

• If, as a result of warming trends, the UK matches the U.S. level of air conditioning use, another 56 billion kilowatt hours of electricity (a 16 percent increase in UK electricity generation) would be required, with a retail cost of about £5 billion per year.

Around five million people, in two million properties, live in flood risk areas in England and Wales. The Environment Agency has some excellent information on the risk of flooding and ways you can protect your home.

No, there are still low groundwater levels across south-east England. During winter our groundwater supplies recharge. The past two winters have been extremely dry. The recent rain has helped to recharge the groundwater supplies but it will take much more rainfall than has already fallen to make up for the last three dry winters. We predict that in order to completely recharge our supplies it will need to rain continuously for the whole of the winter.

Some reservoirs in south-west England are still below average for the time of year. Most reservoirs are average or above average for the time of year. Reservoir levels in south-east England are average for the time of year and are slightly higher than this time last year.

Even though it is raining it is still important for us all to continue to save water.

• Energy bills are higher in the winter with colder and stormier weather. Saving water in your home not only saves water but saves you money on your energy bill. Try taking a shorter shower which saves water and in turn saves energy.

• Ensure your pipes are properly insulated this winter. Burst pipes can waste lots of water and cost you water, money, time and lots of aggravation.

• Why not collect some of this rain so that in the next dry period you have water for your garden. Think about buying another water butt. Incidentally, larger rainwater butts, known more commonly as rainwater harvesting can be plumbed into your toilets and washing machines. The Rainwater Harvesting Association has some excellent information.

• If you’re really feeling keen you can make holes in your lawn with a garden fork so the water infiltrates through the topsoil and you don’t get water logging.

• In cities, more people are starting to pave their front gardens to make space for parking cars. This causes increased rainwater runoff and flooding which does not filter down into the groundwater supplies. If you are thinking of paving over your front garden, why not think about:

o Collecting your rainwater runoff in a rainwater tank
o Leaving areas where rainwater can infiltrate ie: flower beds, gravel or by using permeable hard surfaces.