The UK could face a water shortage in 25 years if we don't take action, a new study has found
The UK might be famous for its wet weather, but a recent study has predicted the demand for water is set to outpace supply within 25 years — and, if we don't act now, our taps could run dry.
A nationwide survey of 2,000 British adults, which was commissioned by Finish, found that water usage is not being taken seriously enough.
In fact, 51% of people believe that British households use the same or less water compared to other European homes, when in fact we use more than most. Shockingly, parts of the UK, such as London and the South East, are drier than Mumbai, India or Nairobi.
Elsewhere in the study, only 14% of people believe it's very likely we will have a water shortage issue over the next 25 years, while just 30% said that they often think about their water use and actively take measures to limit it.
The study also found...
If we don't start saving water now, between 2025 and 2050 around 3,435 million extra litres of water per day will be needed for public water supply to address future pressures.
Across Britain, 840 billion litres of water each year is used for showers.
More than 740 billion litres is flushed down the toilet every year.
Pre-rinsing dishes before they go in the dishwasher wastes 1,232 litres of water a year.
Outdoor water accounts for less than 10% of household water use and is split between watering the garden and washing the car.
77% of the British public agree with the statement that "the UK is a wet, rainy country", believing nothing needs to be done.
"UK water supply is expected to begin exceeding demand around 20-25 years from now, at which point, unless we take action to change things, we will not have enough water to supply our needs," Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, says in the report.
"I urge everyone to think what small steps they can take to make a big difference. By taking action now to love water more, we can ensure clean and plentiful water for generations to come."
If we collectively take action now, we can ensure there will be enough water to go around for generations to come. From taking shorter showers to saving leftover water for your plants, there are many simple changes that will make a huge difference.
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