Next month (November), the UK will host the latest round of UN climate talks, or Cop26
The talks have been billed as a test of global solidarity between the world’s rich and poor nations and are expected to be the most important climate talks since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015.
High on the agenda is likely to be the matter of water usage – and wastage – and the resulting impact on the environment – something Clare Galland, water efficiency and environmental services manager at Everflow, knows all about. Water is, in theory, a renewable resource. After all, here in Britain at least, rain is the most common weather phenomenon we encounter.
However, as Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency said in 2020: “People might wonder how a country with such a reputation for rain like the UK could reach a tipping point where demand for water outstrips supply in just 25 years. But this may become a reality if we don’t take action to save water now. A convergence of factors underpinned by climate change has led us to this frightening prospect. But if we all take concerted action now, we can ensure that there will be enough water to go around for generations to come.”
Indeed, the Great British Rain Paradox report found that three in four people in the UK believe it’s a wet and rainy country, and most believe we have enough water to meet our future needs. But climate change and population growth mean that the UK could face significant water shortages in less than 25 years.
How has this happened?
In short, more people and less water. The UK population has grown by around 20 per cent over the past 50 years, changes to the climate have led to wetter winters and drier, hotter summers. However, wetter winters do not necessarily translate into more water. Rather, they disrupt infrastructure with flooding and reduce supplies when we need them most. As well as the population growth we’re having to accommodate, our water use has changed too. In the 1960s the average person used 85 litres per day. Today, we use 143 litres per person each day – nearly double the amount. The reasons for this are manifold, but include the increase in household appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines; improvements in personal hygiene – people will now have a daily shower, rather than one bath a week, often sharing the water with their family; and an increasing amount of food being grown in greenhouses to meet the demand for out-of-season produce – this requires watering throughout the year.
Supply and demand
In early 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic and government restrictions were combined with the hottest ever month of May to create unprecedented demand for water. With more people at home than normal, water usage was more than 40 per higher than average in some parts of the country. That perfect storm, which led to exceptional demand for water, was impossible to predict, but it highlights how demand can and does change. And when it does change, it has a knock-on effect; when clean water is being used faster than it can be produced, businesses can experience low water pressure and even outages to their water supply. So, what can we do?
How we can save water together
The good news is that there are ways that absolutely everyone can have a positive impact. Businesses and employees can all work together, both every day and in times of crisis, to ensure there’s enough water for everyone. Simple tips include making sure you’re aware of the warning signs of leaks, such as damp patches in or outside your building, unusually lush vegetation during dry periods and running overflow systems. A dripping tap can waste more than 5,300 litres of water a year, so make sure taps are properly turned off and change washers at the first sign of a drip.
And while the warmer weather of Summer is a (rare) pleasure, thousands of litres of water can be wasted every day on grounds maintenance. Hoses and sprinklers can use up to 1,000 litres per hour – more than a family of four will use in a day. And of course, always best to water in the evenings to avoid wastage due to evaporation in the daytime heat.
To save, ensure vehicles, surfaces and equipment are rinsed with a bucket of water rather than a hose when possible and consider recycling the water you’re using for washing. At Everflow, we’ve built our systems to notice when customers are using an unusual amount of water. If this happens, we alert them, advise them how to check for leaks and can offer further advice for using less water to keep your bills down. We also offer a range of water saving products and services and can work with our SME customers to find those that optimal for their organisation, saving water in communities and reducing their water bills in the process. Climate change is an emergency, but by all working together, our small changes can add up to a big result.
