“Conserve water — take a bath with someone”: this might just be the most suggestive piece of public guidance ever issued by the authorities, yet it perfectly captured the atmosphere during the peak of 1976.
drought
Soon after, it appeared on patches and was printed on t-shirts. It may have also helped conserve some water.
As
intense dry weather spreads throughout the United Kingdom
, following the
hottest spring on record
and with large parts of England under a
hosepipe ban
as it is scheduled to extend into fall, it’s an opportunity to reconsider ways we can conserve water.
It could appear unusual that, on an island famous for its constant rain, we are once more experiencing a downpour.
water shortages
but this should not truly be unexpected on a world where
global heating
is out of control. Six of the warmest years ever recorded in the UK have taken place within the past decade, with three of the…
hottest summers
occurred over the past five years. Higher temperatures lead to greater evaporation, and a warmer air holds more moisture, drawing surface water away faster. This may cause what are known as rapid droughts that can develop within just a few weeks.
In the future, the situation appears quite bleak. Currently, the Southeast has been classified as experiencing “extreme water scarcity,” with seven more areas potentially joining them.
as soon as 2030
By the middle of this century, the possibility of prolonged dry spells leading to household water supplies being interrupted is becoming increasingly likely.
Plans for nine
new reservoirs
–
the initial one for over 30 years
– Have been recently revealed by the government, but is this truly the solution? Following years of significant neglect, the privatized water sector is celebrating, as reservoirs count as assets on their balance sheets, thus boosting company values. Regardless of whether these reservoirs are actually constructed or not, ensuring that all people have sufficient water will present a major challenge over the coming decades as temperatures rise. We must explore alternative approaches to address the issue.
Per capita water use in the UK ranks among the top in Europe, even though over 1,200 Olympic-size swimming pool volumes of water escape daily due to leaks. It’s evident that significant improvements can be made without investing billions in new dams. Additionally, there are numerous actions individuals can take to reduce their consumption and gain reassurance should supplies ever be interrupted.
In terms of water conservation, Britain lags behind many European countries, as periods of high temperature and dryness have intensified more quickly in recent times. A strategy currently gaining traction here to address water scarcity is known as rainwater collection. At present, Germany leads the way, with nearly two million households equipped to capture and hold rainfall. This collected water is primarily utilized for external cleaning activities, thereby decreasing dependence on a centralized potable water system by approximately 50,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools annually.
Meanwhile, an additional advantage is that reduced water entering drainage systems during heavy rains helps lower the likelihood of…
flooding
This did not occur randomly, but rather resulted from tax incentives and support provided by the German government, and this strategy is also adopted by other European nations such as Belgium, France, and Switzerland.
That also applies in the UK, where winter precipitation—which is actually rising—can be collected for use during warmer periods, along with sudden thunderstorms that are already typical of our summer seasons. Considering that approximately 13,000 gallons of rain fall on an average UK rooftop annually—that’s over a third of the usual water consumption for a family of four—it appears unreasonable not to capture this resource.
Acquiring a harvesting setup that integrates smoothly with a main power source is costly; however, buying the equipment needed to connect gutters to water barrels is inexpensive and straightforward to set up. Given our property spans nearly an acre where we cultivate over 30 types of fruits and vegetables, collecting rainwater is crucial. Yet, this approach benefits all individuals as well. Collected rainwater can be utilized for gardening tasks—plants generally favor it—as well as washing vehicles, cleaning terraces and driveways, wiping windows and floors, and even flushing toilets when desired.
If you consider it closely, utilizing tap water for all these purposes appears quite unreasonable. Consuming rainwater, even following boiling, isn’t advisable because of pollutants absorbed from the air and during storage, although filtration units are available to render it drinkable.
Rainwater collection is beneficial as it offers a level of independence, yet the main point is that if countless homes collect rainwater and utilize it for various purposes, the pressure on valuable public drinking water supplies could significantly decrease. This would extend the availability of such resources and reduce the likelihood of temporary water taps appearing on streets during worsening future dry periods.
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In the United Kingdom, certain local authorities and water companies offer financial assistance or discounts towards the expense of setting up rainwater collection systems, while enterprises might be eligible for support through tax relief programs. Currently, though, there isn’t a nationwide approach to managing rainfall, limited accessible public data regarding this topic, and insufficient strong motivators for both homes and organizations to capture and recycle rainwater. This situation needs improvement.
Prior to water consumers being required to pay billions more in increased charges to fund new dams, the government should promote rainwater collection at a scale that encourages widespread adoption. Meanwhile, it also has to enforce
water companies
To take much greater action to stop the leaks that result in massive amounts of water being wasted annually. Failing to do so doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.
So long as we continue emitting carbon dioxide, the climate—both in the UK and globally—is set to grow warmer, and access to water will increasingly diminish. Upcoming dry spells, fueled by temperatures exceeding 40°C—
heatwaves
, will render this summer and even that of 1976 feel mild and moist by contrast. Extreme water scarcity is now unavoidable, and unless we take action immediately to maximize the use of rainfall, we’ll face serious difficulties.
The actions we undertake now will yield benefits over the coming decades. Should we remain inactive, ultimately, everyone will find themselves waiting in lines on the streets for access to water. In the meantime, taking a bath together is certainly not advisable, but I believe a brief communal shower would be completely acceptable.
Bill McGuire holds the title of professor emeritus in geophysical and climate risks at UCL. The upcoming publication — “The Fate of the World: A Deep-Time History of the Climate Crisis” — will be released next year.
Six simple methods for conserving water within your residence
- Only when we understand our level of consumption can we genuinely reduce it, therefore
getting a water meter
Installed is an obvious choice when it comes to lowering consumption, particularly because it can also help you save money.
Using the “eco” settings
Your dishwasher and washing machine can help you save 40 liters of water each day. Taking baths consumes large quantities of water –
replacing a weekly bath with a shower
Can help you conserve approximately 4,000 liters of water each year. Taking brief showers lasting about 5 to 7 minutes can also lower your water consumption. For additional savings, you can currently purchase fixtures designed to reduce water usage, such as low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets.
Turn off the tap
while brushing your teeth — this could help a standard home save 9,000 liters of water annually, as reported by Water UK.
Fill your kettle less
Only add the amount of water you require and avoid refilling the kettle prior to each boiling session. Reducing the water used in your kettle by 10 percent can conserve 3.65 gallons of water annually.- Do
less washing up
. Leaving most washing up until the end of the day can reduce frequently running your tap water – as can putting as much as possible in the dishwasher.
Avoid half-full washing
loads. Only filling your washing machine halfway uses more than 50 per cent the energy and water of a full load. Washing machines use on average 60 litres of water per cycle so running them less frequently can save water.
