Large parts of England and the entirety of Wales have been declared to be in drought, marking the third such event in the last five years. This recurring dry spell has prompted renewed calls for significant investment in the nation's water infrastructure and a greater focus on water conservation.
The current drought situation underscores a long-standing issue of underinvestment in water management systems. Sir John Armitt, former chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission, emphasized the need for long-term planning, stating that governments have historically resisted building new reservoirs, believing alternative solutions could suffice. However, recent extreme weather patterns have demonstrated the inadequacy of these approaches.
"We need to invest for the long term, in new water storage facilities, whether it's at the local level supporting farmers or at a large scale with the water companies themselves being allowed to build reservoirs," Armitt told Radio 4's Today programme. He noted that no major reservoir has been completed in England since 1992. A review of the sector last year by Sir Jon Cunliffe, former Bank of England deputy governor, identified "underinvestment" and assigned blame to both the water industry and regulatory bodies.
Beyond infrastructure, addressing water leakage and usage is also critical. Armitt highlighted the potential for significant water savings through reduced personal consumption, suggesting that reaching consumption levels seen in Denmark, approximately 100 liters per person per day, could yield substantial savings. The average water usage per person in the UK is currently around 140 liters per day.
Water UK, the industry's representative body, acknowledged the systemic issues, stating that "everyone agrees the system has not been working.... fundamental change has been long overdue." In response to the ongoing concerns, plans are in motion for new reservoirs, with two tentatively scheduled for completion in 2036 and the 2040s. Additionally, in May of the previous year, water companies committed to delivering nine new reservoirs by 2050. These proposed facilities, to be located in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Suffolk, Kent, East Sussex, and the West Midlands, are projected to provide an additional 670 million liters of water daily.
The recurring droughts have visible impacts, with dry grass in parks like Greenwich and drought-damaged football pitches on Hackney Marshes. The exposed riverbeds of waterways such as the River Wye and low water levels in reservoirs like Howden further illustrate the severity of the situation. In some areas, the lack of rainfall has also contributed to heathland fires.
Maps indicate that large swathes of England, including East Anglia, London, the Thames Valley, Hampshire, the West Midlands, and Wessex, are currently experiencing drought conditions, with other regions facing prolonged dry weather. Only northeastern areas of England are reported to be under normal conditions. This geographical distribution highlights the widespread nature of the water scarcity.