The global water crisis should be considered as critical as climate change, researchers have said A report from the British Standards Institute and non-governmental organisation Waterwise has brought together of several areas of research for a comprehensive analysis of the challenges nations face around water supplies.
High levels of water consumption and scarcity can contribute to carbon emissions, destroy habitats and make ecosystems more vulnerable to climate change and drought. The research also identified low trust in the water infrastructure due to persistently high levels of sewage is endangering public co-operation in reducing use.
The BSI and Waterwise suggests the UK should role out plans to reduce consumption and leakage as well as trial pricing tariffs and introducing mandatory water efficiency labelling on products – a consultation on which by the UK Government has seen no formal response. These include recognising water wastage as a serious challenge, making it easy for consumers to choose water-saving products and make sustainable choices, embracing innovation and better use of data, encouraging a water-saving culture and rolling out water recycling and reuse.
“But it is becoming increasingly clear that it is not sustainable for demand for water to continue to rise without action to ensure we are using it wisely and managing it efficiently.