The race to stop England running out of water

In early August, farmer Daniel Sizer received a message from his local water board notifying him that river levels were low, but had recovered enough for one night of irrigation. His 300-hectare farm in Suffolk had seen little rain in nearly three months, with his crop of peas and wheat now ruined due to the lack of water in the river.

In July, the Environment Agency temporarily halted irrigation from rivers, as low levels posed a risk to wildlife. England has experienced the consequences of prolonged droughts and heatwaves in recent years, with projections suggesting that the country could face a daily shortfall of five billion liters of public water supply by 2055, enough to fill Wembley Stadium four and a half times daily.

The issue stems from a combination of low rainfall, high temperatures, and increasing demand for water, all of which have put pressure on England's water supply. In comparison to Denmark, where residents consume 97 liters of water per person per day, England's daily consumption per person is 136.5 liters. This represents a doubling of water use per person in the last 50 to 60 years, driven by changing habits, such as more frequent showers and baths.

If households in England consumed water like those in Denmark, it could help alleviate more than half of the projected shortfall by 2055.

One potential solution is to reduce water consumption, even with population growth. Simple measures, such as shortening shower times by one minute, could save nearly one billion liters of water daily by 2050. However, the public perception of water companies and their perceived disdain for conservation efforts has limited the impact of such messages.

Water companies argue that water prices are already too high, and Denmark's current situation of higher prices and mandatory water meters has been effective in reducing consumption.

Despite rising water bills, many consumers believe that they are not paying enough for water. In Denmark, the average cost of water and wastewater is £9.45 per cubic meter, compared to £4.21 in England and £7.06 in Southern. Water Resources East, an organization working with farmers, water companies, and local authorities, suggests that water in England is too cheap, leading to overconsumption.

In Denmark, water conservation efforts have been ingrained in the culture, with school children visiting waterworks, and households embracing water-saving devices. Feargal Sharkey, a former punk band frontman turned water quality advocate, criticized efforts to raise prices and cut consumption, calling them window dressing on the part of companies.

However, some argue that higher prices and stricter water usage regulations are necessary to ensure the sustainable use of this precious resource.