‘Dead storage’ and ‘imminent risk to supplies’: documents reveal how England’s water companies struggled in last summer’s heatwaves, unearthed.greenpeace.org (Aug 23, 2023) — Internal briefings expose Environment Agency concerns that reservoir levels could drop so low the water would be untreatable and that companies might break the law- Kent and Sussex hosepipe ban announced amid water shortage, BBC News (Jun 19, 2023)
The South East has experienced more droughts than any other part of the UK, with nine periods of significant drought since 1970. In 2007, most of the South East, was officially designated as an area of serious water stress by the Environment Agency. The South East experiences half the amount of rain compared with other regions of the UK but has a much larger population. Changes to rainfall patterns could lead to a 30% decrease in average river flows during 'dry' periods, with a negative water supply and demand balance, significantly impacting residents' health and wellbeing.[1]
The amount of water used in areas like the South East means that they are classified as "seriously water stressed" by the Environment Agency (based on how much water is abstracted annually compared to how much is available – per person, we have less water available in the South East of England than Morocco). Sep 22, 2019[2]
Community action Projects[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Video[edit | edit source]
Citizens data initiative[edit | edit source]
News and comment[edit | edit source]
2022
- Appeal for water customers to be mindful when turning on the tap, southeastwater.co.uk (Jul 11, 2022) — South East Water is asking people to be mindful of the amount of water they are using as hot temperatures push up demand beyond levels expected for the time of year. Water latest, southeastwater.co.uk
2019
England could run short of water within 25 years.[4] Mar 18
2017
Quarter of England's rivers at risk of running dry, finds WWF.[5] Jun 24
Households in southern England urged to save water after dry winter.[6] May 5
News sources
- News, southeastwater.co.uk
See also[edit | edit source]
- Towards a more democratic and climate friendly way of meeting housing need across England
- Rural sustainability UK
- Urban sustainability UK
- Citizens data initiative UK
External links[edit | edit source]
- Drought in the United Kingdom W
- South East Rivers Trust, Water for all, southeastriverstrust.org, added 16:38, 2 February 2021 (UTC)
- Blueprint for Water wcl.org.uk, Use water wisely wcl.org.uk
