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Water Availability Could Drop By 15 percent Come 2050, Experts Say
Focusing on business water saving strategies would be a very wise move for companies of all shapes and sizes now and into the future, given the assertion of one industry expert that by the year 2050, the amount of water available in the UK could be reduced by between ten and 15 per cent.
Speaking at the Environment Agency Waterwise Conference on March 19th, Sir James Bevan – the chief executive of the agency – explained that climate change means the country will be facing hotter, drier summers and by 2040, it’s predicted that over half the summers we have will exceed temperatures seen in 2003.
Some rivers could see between 50 and 80 per cent less water during the hotter months, increasing drought risk thanks to hotter weather and less predictable rainfall.
Take population growth into account and we’re faced with a big problem, he continued. Our population is expected to rise from the 67 million it is now to 75 million in 2050, which means more houses, roads, energy, food and places to work will be required… all of which will put extra pressure on our water supplies.
“In the face of water scarcity, we must tackle both sides of the equation: reduce demand and increase supply. The good news is that we can do both of those.
“We can reduce demand by reducing leakage, by more water metering, sustainable drainage systems, insisting on new building regulations to drive greater water efficiency, and finding ways to cut down the amount of water we each use as individuals,” Sir James went on to say.
So, what can businesses do now to really help make a difference and ensure that we safeguard this essential resource for future generations?
Prioritising water leak detection should be your first port of call in this regard if you’ve not already taken steps to ensure that your site is operating at maximum efficiency. Give us a call to carry out a full site survey so we can help you find leaks of any size and plan out repair work as appropriate.
It might also be worth having a water audit done, comparing your water use and volumes against what you’re actually being charged for. This will reveal any discrepancies that could mean you’ve been overcharged, allowing us to make a series of tailored recommendations for where water usage can be reduced, therefore lowering your costs and preventing water wastage.
You could also look into water monitoring and automated meter reading, where water usage is monitored across your site continuously. This means that any issues can be spotted quickly and your water-saving solutions can be adjusted to suit your requirements as they change over time.
Once all this has been achieved, you could then start considering the likes of commercial rainwater harvesting and water recycling to help save even more water and ensure that our supplies are robust now and well into the future.