UK Faces Water Crisis: Brace for Emergency Bottled Supplies on Lorries
The National Infrastructure Committee (NIC) has issued a stark warning: if the UK doesn’t get a grip on water management, Brits could be queuing for emergency bottled water delivered straight from the back of lorries.
NIC chairman Sir John Armitt slammed the government for neglecting the nation’s water supply. He says a whopping £20 billion investment is needed to fix ageing infrastructure.
“You have to pay for (water) in some way,” Armitt said. “This could include investing in new reservoirs or transporting water across the country, as well as repairing leaks.”
Hosepipe Bans Hit Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Pressure on water supplies is already biting. Southern Water customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight face a hosepipe ban starting Friday, August 5 — the first since 2012.
- No watering gardens or washing cars
- No filling ornamental ponds or swimming pools
Southern Water revealed river flows are down by 25% thanks to one of the driest years on record. Meanwhile, Manx Utilities slapped a similar ban on the Isle of Man.
Environmental Groups Sound Alarm on Water Use
The Rivers Trust and Angling Trust support the NIC’s plea for urgent action. The upcoming years could see things get much worse.
Mark Lloyd from The Rivers Trust told The Observer: “There needs to be a nationally coordinated publicity campaign to reduce water use, as well as universal water metering.”
“Low river flows are disastrous for wildlife, and we ultimately need to take much better care of this incredibly valuable resource.”
