Water and the UK
Demand
Demand risen 70% since 1985
Increased standard of living and availability of appliances e.g. washing machine and dish washer
Increased leisure use e.g. swimming pool, watering golf courses.
Increased industrial use
Increased population size
Demand for out-of-season food which requires additional watering
Increased personal hygiene e.g. more showers
Supply
Demand and population density highest in the midland and the south east
High rainfall in the north and west
Water surplus in the north and west and water deficit in the south east and midlands
Transfer: the movement of water through pipes and channels through an area of surplus to an area of water deficit
UK is considering a water grid
Impacts
Impact on the river basin of the source area e.g. droughts
Dams for reservoirs disrupt the ecology and block migrating species
Carbon emissions from water pumps
Examples: Lake District and North Wales mountains supply densely populated areas such as Liverpool
80% of south east water comes from ground water
Pollution
Today lakes, rivers and coastal waters are the cleanest they have ever been since the industrial revolution
Factories leak chemicals into rivers, despite regulations
runoff from motorways and roads (oils and heavy metals)
pesticides and fertilisers from farming (which are controlled) e.g. eutrification
management systems
Legislation: laws to limit the chemicals that farms and factories can discharge
Waste water treatment plants
Pollution traps e.g. reed beds catch and filter water near rivers and water courses
Green roofs and walls: reduced runoff and flooding risk and also filters out pollution
Education campaigns e.g. educate the public to avoid baby wipes and oil into sewage
Supply reduced by water pollution; some ground water is too contaminated to use and some has been cleaned (expensive)
sewage contaminating water supplies can lead to the spread of disease