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In England, oversubscribed water providers have maneuvered themselves into a crisis situation. Up to 25% of the water is leaking from the pipelines, the reservoirs are alarmingly low, and summer is approaching.
England has not seen substantial rain for weeks now. There is growing concern that the reservoirs may not be able to supply enough water in the summer, as reported by the Editorial Network Germany (RND).
Thames Water, the water provider, is already warning that after an unusually dry spring in some regions of England, consumption restrictions could be looming in a few months. The financially burdened company faces another issue: hundreds of millions of liters of water are lost daily due to leaks in the deteriorating pipeline network. Experts estimate that 20 to 25% of drinking water is lost due to the old pipes.
Reservoirs are currently only 84% full, according to RND, lower than in April 2022 when England experienced a significant drought in the following summer. Water companies are said to already have contingency plans to deliver water by tankers.
Reports from the Lake District in northwest England indicate that the storage reservoirs at Haweswater & Thirlmere are only 55% full. The construction of a new large reservoir in Oxfordshire is set to begin in 2029. Additionally, the seawater desalination plant in Beckton in East London is not operational due to high energy requirements.
Southeast England is now considered a "water-stressed area" due to its high population density compared to limited water resources, as reported by RND.
Privatization and mismanagement are seen as key factors contributing to the current situation. Observers attribute the ongoing water scarcity to the privatization of water companies in England. Since 1989, the companies have inadequately invested in the crumbling infrastructure while distributing profits to shareholders.
Today, high debts, leaks, supply issues, and unmet environmental standards are prevalent. The persistent water scarcity is therefore also a result of mismanagement.