News
Climate Change & Growing Demand ‘Biggest Pressures’ On Water Supply
The State of the Environment: Water Resources report, published late last month (May) by the Environment Agency, has found that the biggest pressures on water supply and availability are demand from a growing population and climate change.
Without an effective water strategy in place, many parts of England – especially the south-east – could be hit with big supply deficits come the year 2050.
Attitudes towards water use now need to change, chair of the agency Emma Howard Boyd has urged, given facts showing that leakage from water companies is now estimated to be at three billion litres a day. Not only that but the level of water abstraction in England is unsustainable… coupled with demand from the general public and industry, the country could soon be in dire straits.
The report has found that water abstraction levels are unsustainable in over a quarter of groundwaters, as well as a fifth of rivers – which is reducing flows that could see local wildlife and ecology damaged.
Ms Howard Boyd made further comments, saying: “[Water] is the most fundamental thing needed to ensure a healthy environment but we are taking too much of it and have to work together to manage this precious resource. Industry must innovate and change behaviours in order to reduce demand and cut down on wastage – and we all have a duty to use water more wisely at home.
“With demand on the rise, water companies must invest more in infrastructure to address leakage instead of relying on abstraction and the natural environment to make up this shortfall.”
To do your bit in the fight against water leaks, get in touch with us at H2O Building Services as we’ll be able to identify these quickly and effectively in order to solve problems before any serious damage to your site is caused.
The majority of these leaks occur out of sight and well out of mind, but do remember that over time even the tiniest of water trickles can lead to huge issues for your company. You could well be faced with massive repair bills for water damage, not to mention the fact that water bills will skyrocket because of all the water being wasted.
Damage to pipes is unfortunately very common, caused by weather erosion, age and general deterioration, traffic vibrations, accidental damage from work being done around them, damage caused by animals and poor connection of joints and valves.
Leaks also carry an environmental cost and while you might not think that the UK, with its damp climate, could possibly be affected by a lack of water, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Water scarcity is certainly a global issue and with rapid population growth, more intensive farming and increased life expectancy, water resources around the world are now facing intense pressure.
To detect leaks, look out for permanently leaking toilets, damp patches on the walls and ceilings, bad smells near drains or coming from the floor, peeling paintwork and a constant sound of dripping or running water.