London could run out of WATER in decades thanks to climate change and population rise

Water shortages could hit London, it has been warned
AFP/Getty Images

Millions of extra litres of drinking water must be sourced to stop parts of London running dry over the coming decades, Thames Water has warned.

It said that unless we change our consumption habits, some 250 million more litres will need to be pumped into the capital each day.

With London’s 8.8 million population due to hit 11 million by 2050, customers are being asked to “consider different ways they can reduce demand”, such as using water-reducing shower heads. Thames Water said that without changing our lifestyles “there would be shortages, low pressure and more instances of people having no water”.

Climate change is predicted to bring shorter, heavier bursts of rain, which run off from the ground and are not as reliable for filling up rivers. Climate change is also expected to cause more droughts.

Ideas include pumping supplies from the countryside, and installing dual supplies in new developments, one for drinking water and one for other uses.

Permeable paving could allow rainwater to drain slowly back into the ground rather than run off and cause flooding.

More effort is to be made to reduce leakages, amid fears of the “worst-case scenario” of restrictions on water use.

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