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Bristol Already Feeling The Effects Of Water Stress, Expert Says
Unless you never watch the news or pick up a newspaper, you’re sure to know that the threat of climate change is all too real these days and there’s only a very small window of opportunity for us to reduce the impact we’re having on the planet so as to slow global warming and protect precious resources like our water supplies.
We’re now living in times of water stress and scarcity, but it’s all too easy for us here in the UK to think that we’re untouchable. After all, we have an awful lot of rain throughout the year – it’s not as though we’re Cape Town, which nearly ran out of water in 2018, with the government implementing some tough measures in order to maintain the region’s water supplies.
But, according to environmental scientist Angela Terry – writing for Bristol Live – the effects of climate change are already being felt in Bristol… so while you might well think that global warming is a future problem, it appears that this is not the case.
A recent UN report warns that global warming has to be kept to a maximum of 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, with the best way of achieving this to slash greenhouse gas emissions drastically.
Like many places around the world, one of the biggest issues that Bristol now faces is both too much and too little water. The local council’s Flood Risk Management Strategy estimates that approximately 1,000 properties in the city are now at risk from storm-driven tidal surges, while places like Stapleton, Bedminster, Eastville and Ashton are very susceptible to flooding.
There’s also the problem of surface water flooding to consider, with 22,300 residential properties at risk, with Bristol in the top ten risk areas for this kind of flooding in the UK.
“I hope we will look back on the last 12 months and see it as a period of mass awakening to the climate change problem,” Ms Terry observed.
If you want to help make a difference and protect our water supplies, looking for alternative water sources and prioritising more efficient management of water could be a wise move.
This could include anything from rainwater harvesting to water recycling – even a small step could make a big difference and you’re sure to be inspired to try and find other ways to reduce the amount of water you use.
If you need any help or advice, get in touch with us here at H2O Building Services today. We’re the leading water cost reduction specialists in the UK and have more than 30 years’ experience in water engineering and consultancy services.