Hosepipe bans are here again. The UK must prepare for the coming era of drought

Telegraph

10-07-2025

Water scarcity is becoming a global problem as droughts become more frequent, longer, and more severe. At the same time, demand for water is rising due to population growth, urbanisation, and economic activities. Unsustainable water policies and poor management are making the situation worse.
The UK is not exempt from this global trend. Droughts have occurred regularly, and yet the country remains unprepared. According to the Environment Agency, April 2025 was the fourth driest on record in north-east England since 1871. In parts of Cumbria and Northumbria, it has been the driest start to the year since 1929. A hosepipe ban has just been implemented in Yorkshire and other water companies are warning of more. The future is likely to bring more frequent and extended droughts because of climate change.
Despite this, long-term planning to reduce the impact of droughts on people, businesses, and the environment is still lacking. Most current actions focus on short-term responses such as monitoring, issuing permits, and restricting water use. Broader, long-term strategies have yet to be formulated.
While infrastructure like reservoirs, pipelines, and treatment plants is important, other areas need more attention. These include improving water use efficiency, encouraging conservation, and reducing demand across all sectors. Waterwise's UK Water Efficiency Strategy to 2030 stresses that saving water should be a central part of national policy. Technologies like desalination can help, but they need to be part of a wider strategy as it is the case in Singapore, for example. They may produce costly water that is used inefficiently or becomes too expensive. In some Gulf countries, for example, desalinated water is widely available, but overall water use remains high and inefficient. Before planning for desalination, cities in coastal cities in England should reduce their water losses.
Clean rivers and lakes are also essential. Pollution from sewage, urban runoff, industrial discharges, fertilisers and pesticides has long affected UK's water sources. When water is polluted, it becomes less usable, making the effects of prolonged droughts worse.
Industrial water use should also be reviewed. For instance, data centres, which support AI and mobile connectivity, use large amounts of water, especially for cooling. In the UK and elsewhere, they are competing with local communities for access to clean water. In Singapore, water efficiency is required across all sectors, including data centres and manufacturing. The UK has yet to introduce similar rules. If a long drought occurs, will data centres and other industries face water restrictions? What would the consequences be? Should they be prioritised over other users due to their importance, or should they be required to become efficient starting now?
The UK government considers water a national priority, but implementable plans to conserve it much better are long overdue. Droughts affect not only water and wastewater systems, but also energy supply, agriculture and overall ecosystems. Planning ahead means ensuring all sectors become more efficient and less polluting, so droughts cause less disruption. Water-saving habits by individuals, almost 70 million in the UK, can make a difference and should be supported by policy and adopted widely. Is it really that bad to wash cars using water in buckets?
The next reporting deadline for the All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Sustainable Flood and Drought Management is 9 February 2026, seven months away. This would be a timely opportunity to discuss a national strategy that is financially viable for drought preparation that protects people, economic sectors, and the environment.