What are the demands for water in the UK?
How far does the UK's water supply meet demand?
The areas with higher population density are the areas of least rainfall, as a result areas such as the south east of the UK has a water deficit so is an area of serious water stress.
The north of the UK has a water surplus because there is a lot of rainfall and low evaporation rates, but low population density.
Saving water
This can help to manage water supplies. Some examples of strategies are:
The north of the UK has a water surplus because there is a lot of rainfall and low evaporation rates, but low population density.
Saving water
This can help to manage water supplies. Some examples of strategies are:
- The use of water meters in the home
- Increasing the use of recycled grey water e.g. using washing up water to water the garden
- More efficient domestic appliances.
- Water transfer
- In 2006 the government proposed to create a larger scheme to transfer water from areas of water surplus to areas of water deficit.
- It had an enormous cost which has stopped it from happening.
- Water is only transferred from the River Tyne, Derwent, Wear and Tees
- There is a growing need for water transfer due to the water insecurity in the south east
- However the schemes would damage river habitats and the energy needed for pumping water would release greenhouse gases.
Managing water quality.
Water quality is as important as water quality.
Groundwater sources have deteriorated as a result of pollution due to:
The Environment Agency manages the quality of the UK's rivers and water sources:
Groundwater sources have deteriorated as a result of pollution due to:
- leaching from old underground mine workings
- discharge from industrial sites
- runoff from chemical fertilisers
The Environment Agency manages the quality of the UK's rivers and water sources:
- monitoring the quality of river water
- filtering water to remove sediment
- purifying water by adding chlorine
- imposing strict regulations on the sues of water