In an interview with The i Paper about the risk of water shortages and water sewage, the former pop star turned rivers campaigner said the UK should seek to emulate Denmark, where citizens use just two-thirds of the amount of water we do – 98 litres compared to about 150 litres a day in the UK.
And shortages will make the pollution problem worse, as there will be less water left in the rivers to dilute it, especially in the summer, Sharkey said.
Raw sewage emptying directly onto the beach from a sewage pipe coming from a caravan park in Kilnsea, Spurn Point, Yorkshire (Photo: Ashley Cooper/Getty)
While recent summers have been much wetter, surging temperatures created the joint hottest on record two years ago and fifth driest since the 1890s.
Analysis last year showed that seven of England’s nine regions are set to experience “severe water stress” by 2030, rising to 12 by 2040, according to research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) for the Kingfisher DIY chain.
The Environment Agency estimates England alone will need an additional five billion litres of water per day by 2050 to maintain current levels of functioning – a 35 per cent increase on the 14bn we use today – to support the growing population, increased need for food to feed it, and as climate change makes rainfall more erratic (to ensure enough water).
“So the question is ‘are we as consumers going to have to use a lot less water?’ – yes we are,” he said.
A man sunbathes in a nearly empty Greenwich Park, London, as drought was declared for parts of England following the driest summer for 50 years in August 2022 (Photo: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
The Scandinavian country has reduced water consumption because households replaced old appliances with more efficient models and are required to have water meters. Water prices are also high in Denmark, meaning the public is more aware of their usage and authorities have greater ability to reinvest funds.
These include baths, clothes washing and teeth cleaning – with showers the biggest user of water accounting, on average, for a quarter of household consumption.
“It’s going to take leadership from the government, which could amend the building regulations right now to demand that every new home is fitted with enough devices, equipment and technology that will limit any personal consumption to 100 litres of water per person per day. The stuff’s all out there. Other countries have been doing this for decades, we haven’t,” he said.
How to reduce water usage
Bathroom
• Shorten your showers – reducing your shower from eight minutes to five can save up to 30 litres of water.
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth – a running tap wastes approximately 6 litres per minute.
• Upgrade your toilet – consider switching to a dual flush toilet, with two buttons allowing different quantities of water to flow. The lower flush option typically uses up to 4-6 litres of water per flush.
Alternatively, try installing a cistern displacement device in your toilet – these can save up to 5,000 litres of water a year and are often available free of charge from your water company.
• Install low flow shower heads – these can save up to 60 litres of water per shower.
• Fit a tap aerator – this small, simple device mixes water with air, reducing the flow but maintaining the water pressure. They are cheap and easy to install and can save significant amounts of water. You can also buy taps with aerators already fitted.
Kitchen
• Fill it up – make sure your dishwasher or washing machine is fully loaded so that you make the most of the water being used. Avoiding pre-rinsing dishes can also help to reduce water waste.
• Use a washing up bowl – if washing up by hand, use a washing up bowl rather than continuously running the tap.
• Upgrade to a water-saving tap – taps designed to be water efficient can use up to 40 per cent less water than a normal tap.
Garden
• Install a water butt – collecting and storing rainwater to use in your garden is a great way to conserve water while keeping your garden well-maintained.
•Use a watering can – use a watering can wherever you can for more targeted watering. Watering the garden with a hosepipe can use 1,000 litres of water an hour – more than 12 baths! If you are using a hosepipe, attaching a trigger nozzle will halve the amount of water used and help direct the flow to the root of your plants.
• Pick drought-resistant plants – consciously choosing plants that need less water, such as lavender or poppies, means you can more easily keep them healthy during dry summer months.
• Reduce evaporation – using mulch and bark in your garden will help to reduce water evaporation by up to 75 per cent. Minimise evaporation by watering in the early morning or late evening, allowing the water to soak into the soil and reach plant roots.
In London, the Mayor Sadiq Khan requires 110 litres per person per day as a minimum standard for all new homes which he says “can be met easily through water efficient fixtures and fittings”.
In England, the new home regulations require that the average water usage be no more than 125 litres per person per day although some planning authorities may enforce a stricter target of 110 litres per person per day.
Part of the challenge is that most Brits are currently totally unaware that they are contributing to the problem, believing their water use to be much lower than it is.
A spokesperson for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Population growth and climate change are putting tremendous pressure on our water system.
“It will consider how we can better manage our water resources, boost water efficiency and speed up the building of water infrastructure including the building of new reservoirs.”
i is calling on all the political parties to sign up to its manifesto to Save Britain’s Rivers#1. RIVER HEALTH: 77% rivers in good health by 2027
Current situation: England’s rivers were once havens of biodiversity, but the vast majority are now struggling to support healthy ecosystems of plants and wildlife. Just 14 per cent of rivers in England are currently in good ecological health and not a single river has achieved good chemical health. The Government has set a legal target that 77 per cent will achieve good ecological status by 2027 – but without urgent action this will not happen.
Target: Within its first six months in power, the new Government will publish a roadmap on how it is going to achieve this existing legal target, and its long-awaited chemical strategy. The plan must include increased funding for the Environment Agency so the watchdog can do its job – and enforce the law.
#2. SEWAGE: Sewage spills will not damage high-priority areas – including bathing spots and nature sites – by 2030
Current situation: Bathing waters and nature sites are being destroyed by sewage spills, but water companies will not be required to clean up all these spaces until 2045.
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