In 2016 nearly 9,500bn litres of water were abstracted in England of that 3bn litres a day is wasted through leaking pipes. The wasted water alone is enough for 20 million peoples use in an average day.

The amount of water used across domestic use, agriculture and industry was already unsustainable as was more than a quarter of available groundwater in 2017. Surface water from rivers and watercourses have also been over abstracted at unsustainable levels of nearly a fifth.

With domestic use at over 140 litres of water a day and a third of water from the environment wasted through domestic overuse, leaks and treatment losses, the water shortages situation this is causing is dire and needs addressing.

This situation leaves 6% – 15% of our English rivers in a detrimental environmental condition. This is also effecting three-quarters of our chalk streams which are a globally important habitat.

The over abstraction and wasted water in England is of huge detriment to our wildlife including birds, fish, aquatic plants.

With decreased river flows in winter and increased flows in Summer predicted with climate change, along with drier, increased temperatures, we can expect to see more changes and damage to our wildlife’s natural habitats.

There is also a risk of mosquito spread diseases with the climate change, such as dengue fever.As well as the looming climate change issue straining our water resources we also have the worry of an estimated 58.5 million population increase by 2026.

It is crucial that we act now to reduce water demand of our depleting water supply to minimise water shortages.