Prevent Droughts in England (not just hosepipe bans)
The world has huge issues with fresh water (most is trapped in glaciers). So the more water we save in the western world, the more there is for people who go without (and it reduces your water bills too!)
England has lots of rain, but climate change is causing dryer summers, which lead to hose pipe bans etc. As well as finding solutions to prevent floods, we need to find solutions to prevent droughts:
Some people have said that birds are singing in the garden. Only to realise they are thirsty, asking for water. Read our post on creating safe havens for garden birds. And garden water safety (for children, pets and wildlife).
A drought simply means a shortage of fresh water. This can impact farmers, as crops fail and they need to find more water for barnyard animals to drink.
Forage Aid can supply free feed for farmers, in case of natural disasters or financial difficulties.
Check for leaks (first thing!)
Most water companies offer free toilet leak detection strips. If not, then wipe the back of your toilet pan with bathroom tissue (30 minutes after you flush). Then place a dry sheet on the back of the pan, leave for up to 3 hours (if the paper is wet, there’s a leak, so call the plumber).
You can also check your home for leaks, by reading your water meter, then take a second reading 30 minutes later (when not using any water). Again if there’s a change, you have a leak that needs fixing.
How to save water indoors
- Repair dripping taps (changing the washers can save thousands of gallons of water each year).
- When safe to do so, reuse your water (if you use a bathroom gadget to syphon out the window, only use non-scented biodegradable bathroom products, or you’ll kill your plants).
- Most modern showers are okay (you could place a bucket to catch the water, for plants). But for older showers, water-saving showerheads are easy to fit (use a qualified electrician). Which? magazine suggests this test to see if it’s worth the investment:
Place a 2-litre container on the shower floor. If it takes less than 12 seconds to fill when the shower is running on full, you could benefit from a low-flow shower. This aerates water (like a rain shower).
How to save water outdoors
- Use a water butt with child/pet-safe locks. Don’t leave open barrels of water around (drowning hazards, and stagnant water attracts mosquitoes).
- Use a waterless car wash (supermarket and driveway car washing, sends untreated oily water down drains, and into the sea).
- Most gardens ‘return to green’ when it rains. So don’t worry about waiting a few days.
Read our post on pet-friendly gardens (many water-saving mulches are unsafe near animal friends).
Eat less meat and dairy
The livestock industry if very water-intensive. So eating more plants is one of the most effective (indirect) ways to save water worldwide. 90% of the UK’s water is used for agriculture (just 5% for home use).
Yet government bang on about water-saving devices, when encouraging plant-based agriculture is way better. Find lots of simple recipes to start you off!
Why drought risk is rising in England
Winters are getting wetter (climate change does not just ‘make everything hotter) while of course summers can be hotter and dryer. Although rain fills our reservoirs, heavy winter downpours run off hard ground quickly, and go straight into rivers and out to sea, leaving dry spells when people need water most.
When we have hotter summers, more water evaporates from soil, reservoirs and gardens. Plants pull moisture from the ground, so today’s ‘average rainfall’ is not the same as it used to be.
Demand also is climbing, as many people use more water (an ageing population means there are more carers, who need more water) and the strive for ‘economic growth’ means more businesses, which need more water. For instance, a street full of high-street coffee bars that have constant machines that need washing (over a little tea shop) uses more water.
Leaks, old pipes and lost water
Many of England’s homes are very old, and this is lovely in one way. But means often they have leaky pipes. Water also escapes from ageing mains systems under the roads, and ground movement can mean pipe bursts are more likely.
Often the cost of calling plumbers out is very high, so leaks that start small get worse, which can lead to massive water loss over time.
It’s also where the rain falls
England’s geography is complex, with rainfall different in various areas. The North West (Lake District, Preston – the rainiest city in England) has heaps more rain than the south east, where the pavement can dry out in hours after a shower. But also in the southeast is London, with one of the biggest populations.
Chalk streams shrink dramatically in summer as groundwater levels fall, and take time to recover. And most of these are in Norfolk – the driest area of England. So even after rain returns, the underground stores recharge slower.
Fair water tariffs and smart meters
Lots of people are still not on water meters, so they use a colossal amount of water, which can cause droughts. Obviously people like carers need to use more water, but some people just take advantage (leaving taps running and using water unwisely) because they are not on a meter, so don’t pay more for using more.
New homes tend to have water-saving toilets, showers and taps. But older homes don’t. So people who live in older homes and are not on water meters, often can go through water like nobody’s businesses.
It’s important to protect low-income households. But also to give incentives for people to use water wisely, like meters and water-saving devices and appliances, especially for large families and people with medical needs.
