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Britain Could Run Short of Water by 2050, Official Says (nytimes.com)
To the casual observer, Britain -- an island nation that's no stranger to rain -- could not get much wetter. From a report: But, as it turns out, that's a fallacy. And if preventive steps are not taken, in less than three decades, Britain might run out of water, the chief executive of the Environment Agency, a public body responsible for conservation in England, said on Tuesday. "On the present projections, many parts of our country will face significant water deficits by 2050, particularly in the southeast, where much of the U.K. population lives," the agency chief, James Bevan, said at a conference on water use.
In about 20 to 25 years, demand could close in on supply in what Mr. Bevan called "the jaws of death -- the point at which, unless we take action to change things, we will not have enough water to supply our needs." The reasons, he said, were climate change and population growth. And he called for a change of attitude toward water conservation to help tackle the problem. "We need water wastage to be as socially unacceptable as blowing smoke in the face of a baby or throwing your plastic bags into the sea," Mr. Bevan said. Many in Britain, citing the often rainy weather and expressing frustration with the infamously high levels of leakage from underground pipes, tend to belittle warnings about water shortages.
In about 20 to 25 years, demand could close in on supply in what Mr. Bevan called "the jaws of death -- the point at which, unless we take action to change things, we will not have enough water to supply our needs." The reasons, he said, were climate change and population growth. And he called for a change of attitude toward water conservation to help tackle the problem. "We need water wastage to be as socially unacceptable as blowing smoke in the face of a baby or throwing your plastic bags into the sea," Mr. Bevan said. Many in Britain, citing the often rainy weather and expressing frustration with the infamously high levels of leakage from underground pipes, tend to belittle warnings about water shortages.
A perfect application for solar energy for a place surrounded by ocean... not seeing any real issue here that isn't readily solvable with known tech. And it's not like they have to transition to getting all their water that way, just some percent on the order of a tenth or so
"We need water wastage to be as socially unacceptable as blowing smoke in the face of a baby or throwing your plastic bags into the sea,"
At least I'm socially acceptable.
I only blow smoke in plastic bags and throw babies into the sea!
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
Since when is it socially unacceptable to blow smoke in the face of a baby?
Do you even know what that baby said?
Yes, there's plenty of water... As you point out- the island is surrounded by water... it's just an expensive supply of water to make drinkable. Britain won't run out of water... they just might run out of cheap drinking water.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
The heading should be "South East Britain Will Run Short of Water Most Years".
Endless building, removal of local drainage, and the fact that it doesn't rain all that much down there is starting to tell. Round here in the North West we have more water than we can use - now if there was an Environmental Agency with the vision to implement a national water grid things might be better. Unfortunately the Agency is toothless and more concerned with leaving waterways to get clogged up and causing widespread flooding.
Phil.
...said no scientist.
Asshole anonymous cowards keep posting these purported "predictions" which are in fact made up completely.
First rule of /.: if an anonymous coward posts something, more than likely it's bullshit.
scientists: by 2050 Britain may run out of water...
british: *shrug*
scientists: Tea...is made with water...
british:: GOD SAVE THE QUEEN WE MUST ACT.
scotland:: kicks in the door AEY IS NO EVEN A QUESHUN DIDNYE KNOW BEER COME FROM WA'UH LADS
Good people go to bed earlier.
Britain has old pipes. Most water loss is through those pipes leaking. Replace the pipes and the outcome will be water security and a few years of massive road blockages as they dig up every road.
I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
it's just an expensive supply of water to make drinkable
Not really. Tons of the stuff literally falls out of the sky in drinkable condition. That's actually sort of the problem. The UK gets so much rain that it's never really been worthwhile to invest in the infrastructure to capture and store more than a tiny fraction of it. All this article is really saying is that as the population grows, that tiny fraction will need to increase. Which is hardly a startling revelation.
-- Note to Mods: There is a good reason there's no "-1 Disagree" option. --
People don't seem to realize how little clean water there is.
Democracy Now! - uncensored, anti-establishment news
... not to mention you then have to figure out what to do with the salt that is produced by such a process.
Logically, they will put it on their chips.
Britain is surrounded by water, true, but it doesn't get sunshine...
apparently one of the few groups of foreigners ever to do so.