By Julia King, The Baroness Brown of Cambridge
As we face the dual crises of too much water in some seasons and too little in others, the urgency for action has never been greater. I’ll be addressing these critical challenges and opportunities at Waterscan’s Water Matters event this June, sharing insights from my role as chair of the Climate Change Committee’s Adaptation Committee.
Too much water: Preparing for flooding
The UK’s changing climate means heavier rainfall, especially during the winter months. This increases the risk of flooding—whether from rivers, surface water, or groundwater—and amplifies the threat of coastal flooding due to rising sea levels and storm surges. However, we’re not adequately prepared for these challenges.
The Environment Agency is working diligently, but their infrastructure is not where it needs to be due to chronic underfunding. Some flood defences are under the control of private riparian owners, potentially creating gaps in our collective resilience. Recent projections incorporating future climate predictions, reveal a troubling rise in extreme surface water flooding risks, particularly in urban areas like London. Such incidents disrupt lives, damage property, and threaten key infrastructure like public transportation systems.
Disappointingly, public awareness and preparedness in flood-prone areas are not improving; surveys suggest a slight decline. A collective effort is needed—government action, public understanding, and better community engagement—to bolster our defences and ensure people know how to protect themselves and their properties.
Too little water: Adapting to drier summers
Summers in the UK are predicted to become up to 25% drier by mid-century. Balancing water needs—for nature, people, agriculture, and economic development—will be increasingly challenging. For example, plans for significant housing developments in water-stressed areas like the Oxford-Cambridge Arc could strain existing supplies.
Addressing these challenges requires urgent action:
- Infrastructure development: Accelerating the construction of reservoirs and water-transfer systems to move supplies where needed.
- On-farm storage: Supporting and incentivizing farmers to store water for irrigation rather than relying heavily on rivers.
- Efficient homes: Ensuring new homes are both net-zero and climate-resilient, with water efficiency at their core. Simple measures, like low-flush toilets and efficient fixtures, can significantly reduce consumption.
Building for the future
On average, UK households use around 140 litres of water per person per day—higher than many European countries. This figure has plateaued in recent years, highlighting the need for greater public awareness and better support for water-efficient appliances and practices.
Industry, too, must play its part. We lack comprehensive data on water use across sectors, but improving efficiency in manufacturing and other industries will be vital to managing resources sustainably.
The road ahead
Water management is central to our climate adaptation strategy. It underpins economic growth, protects ecosystems, and ensures community resilience. As we look to the implications of the seventh carbon budget and the potential water demands, for example of hydrogen production, it’s clear we must act now.
Storing winter rainfall to support drier summers, adapting infrastructure to mitigate flooding, and embedding water efficiency into our homes and businesses are just some of the steps we must accelerate.
Water is a shared resource and a shared responsibility. By acting decisively, we can ensure a sustainable future for all. I look forward to exploring these issues further at Water Matters in June and engaging with all of you to drive meaningful change.
