During the 2022 drought, London came perilously close to running out of water, with contingency plans drafted to ban businesses from using water and drain hotel swimming pools. If the lack of rainfall had continued for another year, taps could have run dry.
The government has now declared a “nationally significant” water shortage in England, meaning the whole country is at risk if dry weather persists. Hosepipe bans are already in place across England, with more restrictions expected. The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology has warned of exceptionally low river flows, extremely low reservoir levels, and dwindling groundwater.
Droughts are typically two-year events, and a second year of below-average rainfall would cause severe shortages for farmers, households, and businesses. Forecasts suggest that by 2055, England’s public water supply could be short by 5 billion litres a day without urgent action – more than a third of current supplies. The economic cost could reach £8.5 billion over this parliament, according to the thinktank Public First.
England’s geology and climate should provide ample water. In the south, porous chalk aquifers filter rainwater into clean supplies used for drinking. In the north, harder rock relies on higher rainfall to fill reservoirs. The UK is one of Europe’s rainier places, but rainfall varies: the Lake District averages 2,000mm annually, while parts of the south-east get as little as 700mm.
Historically, water has been taken for granted. The New River Company began piping water to London’s wealthy in the 17th century. After the Great Stink of 1858, Joseph Bazalgette overhauled London’s sewage system, later adding treatment centres. Today, consumers expect abundant tap water and use large quantities.
With population growth and climate breakdown, the once-unthinkable prospect of running out of water is becoming a serious risk. Urgent action is needed to future-proof resources and prevent a crisis that could affect everyone.
