Waterwise response to Environment Agency’s water shortage warning: “The time to act is now”
Following this week’s update to the National Framework for Water Resources, the Environment Agency (EA) delivers a stark warning that England could face a daily shortfall of 6 billion litres of water by 2055 if urgent action isn’t taken. That includes 5 billion litres a day for public water supply, and 1 billion litres a day needed by key sectors like energy, food production and new technologies.
Speaking at the Framework launch today, our Waterwise CEO, Nicci Russell, said:
“These figures confirm that we are running out of water – right here, right now, not just in the future. They also confirm that all of us have a role to play, at home and at work, in closing the gap between the water we have and the water we need. As the independent voice on water efficiency, Waterwise works with everyone to drive awareness of the need for water efficiency and, importantly, how to do it! It’s really important that diverse voices and diverse audiences are reflected in water efficiency campaigns. We all have different relationships with water – and we need to tap into those relationships to drive down water waste.”
At Waterwise, we welcome this updated Framework and the renewed focus on water resilience, but we also know this is no time for delay. As our Head of Policy and Research, Jo Osborn, said:
“The numbers paint a worrying picture of what happens if we don’t act – but the report highlights how we are in a position where we can still change the story. 2055 might sound far off, but it really isn’t. Over half of that deficit is earmarked to be met by reducing water use and leakage, so we need urgent, joined-up action across Government, business and communities now – and everyone has a role to play.”
What the Environment Agency Report Highlights:
- A 5 billion litre per day public supply shortfall – a third of current daily usage – could hit by 2055 (equivalent to the volume of 4.5 Wembley Stadiums!)
- A further 1 billion litres per day demand is expected to be needed by industry and emerging sectors like hydrogen production and data centres.
- Climate change, population growth, and the need to protect the environment are intensifying water pressures.
- 60% of the water gap must be met by managing demand, including reducing leakage and increasing water efficiency.
Key actions now needed and underway
The Environment Agency’s key recommendations, many of which align closely with the actions we’ve been championing in our UK Water Efficiency Strategy to 2030, include:
- Roll out 10 million smart meters to help households and businesses monitor water use and catch leaks early, stating that the average person on a meter uses 122 litres per day, compared to 171 litres without (almost 50 litres less per day!).
- Introduce mandatory water efficiency labelling for appliances like dishwashers, showers and toilets – making it easier for consumers to choose water-saving products, creating a competitive market in this space.
- Build more water-efficient homes: New developments to be designed with low water use in mind from day one.
- Increased infrastructure: Water companies plans include nine new desalination schemes, 10 new reservoirs and seven new water recycling schemes by 2050.
- Cut down on leakage: The EA will continue to work with financial regulator Ofwat on water company pledges to cut leakage by 17% in the next five years and by 50% by 2050.
- Stop wasting clean water: We’re still flushing drinking-quality water down toilets and onto lawns. With the right support and more innovations, particularly for emerging industries, rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse could become the norm.
“We know how to fix this. We just need to move forward on it, and with urgency,” Jo added. “We can’t afford to only pay attention during heatwaves or hosepipe bans, whatever the weather we need to be valuing the water we have and using it wisely. Water efficiency is a year-round issue and should be a permanent part of our climate and sustainability agenda. We hope when the Cunliffe Review is published later this summer we’ll see more on water efficiency action highlighted there too.”
What you can do today
You don’t need to wait for legislation or infrastructure projects to play your part. Some simple things you can do at home now include:
- Check for a leaky toilet – they can silently waste hundreds of litres a day and are a major culprit in the scale of lost water.
- Let your lawn go golden this summer – hosepipes and sprinklers use 1,000 litres an hour (that’s the equivalent of 8 bathtubs full every hour!)
- Visit our website to find new ideas and simple tips to save water at home or at work, and consider joining our Individual Membership or applying for our Training or Checkmark Award.
“Most people don’t want to waste water – they just don’t always realise where it’s being lost. Our website has loads of advice and inspiration for people who want to do more,” Jo said.
To explore our water-saving tools, guidance and campaigns, head to our web page on How to Save Water.
You can read the full National Framework for Water Resources 2025 on the Environment Agency website here.
