Large areas of England could face severe water stress by 2030

Seven regions in England by 2030 could face severe water stress, which could spread to almost the entire south and midlands by 2040, analysis has shown.

Home improvement company Kingfisher used data from water companies and the Environment Agency for its study, which found 12 out of 17 English regions could face severe water stress in the coming two decades unless action is taken.

Water stress is when demand exceeds the available supply.

No region currently faces water stress but the warming climate is expected to bring longer and hotter spells during the summer which will put extra pressure on UK water resources.

Households use an average of 144 litres per day and the government has set itself the target of reducing this to 122 litres by 2038 and 110 litres by 2050.

In its Plan for Water, the government said installing water butts, using water more sensibly and more efficiently as well as fixing leaks quickly, turning off the tap while brushing teeth and installing smart meters will help reduce demand.

It also wants water companies to reduce leakage in their pipelines, as about 20 per cent of the public water supply is lost this way.

Kingfisher, which joined forces with economics consultants Cebr for its analysis, said water use has risen by three litres per person per day in the past five years.

“Across Europe, we are experiencing more extreme weather, leading to increasing water scarcity in many regions,” said Thierry Garnier, chief executive of Kingfisher.

“As the impact of climate change becomes more apparent, measures such as hose pipe bans are set to become much more common, with increasingly strong measures needed to reduce demand.”

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A separate survey of 3,000 UK adults, commissioned by Kingfisher, found people tend to underestimate their water use. About 66 per cent said they probably use less than 140 litres a day while 29 per cent were unable to guess.

On average, people thought they used only 57 litres of water per day, Kingfisher said.

More than half of respondents said they leave the tap on while brushing their teeth, a figure that rose to 70 per cent among Londoners — one of the regions most likely to face future water stress and where the amount of water lost through pipe leaks is among the highest in the country.

Only 25 per cent said they shower for under five minutes, while 40 per cent said they shower for eight minutes or longer.

The average shower uses 12 litres per minute, according to water company estimates, so an eight-minute shower could be using as much as 96 litres.

Kingfisher said more than 40 per cent of water in the home is used for showers, baths and handwashing, with toilets using about 30 per cent.

Almost 80 per cent of respondents said reducing the amount of water they use is important to them, with three in four believing saving water is more important now than a decade ago.

“We all have a role to play in conserving water,” Mr Garnier said.

“Making simple and affordable changes in our homes can have a huge impact, from installing water butts to collect rainwater for the garden to fitting tap aerators or low-flow shower heads.

“Governments can also help by encouraging the roll-out of smart water meters and supporting the public to be more informed about water.

“By taking action now, we can put our water usage on a more sustainable path and safeguard this essential resource for the future.”