Why can we no longer take water availability for granted in the UK?

The UK is blessed with a climate that gives us great variety across the seasons. All year round, we experience varying weather patterns, with a regular combination of rain, sunshine, snow and wind to keep us on our toes at different times of the year. This alternating climate is fantastic for harnessing natural renewable energy, and for providing a steady supply of drinking water for the general population.

However, recently the Environment Agency (EA) has warned that the rate at which water is being used in the UK far exceeds the speed at which it is being drawn from reservoirs, extracted from the ground or processed via wastewater systems.

In November 2025, the EA declared that water efficiency must become a “national priority” to combat water wastage and maximise efficiency.

Global challenges faced by water shortages

At COP30 in 2025, the OECD highlighted the increasing prevalence of droughts across the world. Unusually, these droughts are targeting areas that were not previously considered to be vulnerable to a scarcity of water, which is concerning.

The need for early planning for drought resistance was a common theme alongside climate-resilient water systems to combat the effects of the changing climate.

What challenges does the UK face with water availability?

The UK is fortunate to have higher rainfall than other countries – so why are we faced with a water shortage?

There are a number of long-term problems that create a shortfall of water in the UK. One of the largest factors is a change in climate; the UK is now receiving hotter and drier summers, resulting in less rainfall and droughts, which quickly deplete water reserves.

Additionally, the population in the UK continues to grow, whilst the infrastructure to maintain the water supply is not growing alongside it. There have been very few new reservoirs constructed since the 1980s. A higher population creates more demand for drinking water, agriculture and commercial usage.

In colder weather, pipe systems can freeze and burst, resulting in the leakage of treated water that is wasted before it can be consumed. Leakages are a huge cost to the water system, with regulators challenging water companies to increase the efficiency of repairs to prevent losses. It is estimated that roughly 19% of the water system is currently lost to leaks every year.

Under a “do nothing” policy, recent analysis from the Environment Agency has found that the UK will suffer a shortfall of 5 billion litres of water per day by 2055 unless action is taken to mitigate the gap between supply and demand for clean water.

How can businesses help to address water conservation and business water prices?

Water conservation must be a unified effort to protect the UK’s water reserves, and all businesses can play their part in minimising wastage and boosting efficiency.

One of the biggest ways to impact water conservation is to fix leaks quickly and prevent extensive water wastage. Monitoring usage out of hours, installing automatic leak detection and checking pipes regularly is a great way to stay on top of leaks (or impending ones).

Additionally, installing smart meters can help businesses to monitor their water usage in real time, allowing business owners to track unusual usage and get to the root cause as quickly as possible.

Businesses can also install updated appliances to reduce water consumption. This can include sensor taps, dual flush toilets and water efficient dishwashers. Not only do these appliances help individuals to consume the minimum amount of water they need, without the excess wastage, but they will also help to reduce monthly bills.

If you’re interested in streamlining your utilities with efficient and cost-effective measures for your business, or simply get competitive business water prices, get in touch with the team here at Everflow today.