Water scarcity

The nation's water resources are increasingly coming under stress and, as a result, our nation's local wildlife habitats and water quality are under threat. Tackling water stress is a growing environmental priority. Industry, water suppliers and consumers all have a part to play.

Water scarcity[1] is increasingly becoming the focus of political, academic and media attention with growing calls for national governments to take a more proactive approach to managing demand and supply.

Two reports released in March 2009 to coincide with the World Water Forum have warned that water scarcity is already constraining economic growth in some countries[2] and warn that water scarcity will become the “headline geopolitical issue” during the next 20 years[3]. At the World Water Forum in March, there were stark warnings that water scarcity will escalate into increasing trans-border conflicts over dwindling resources.

A report[4] by the Environment Agency (EA) in December 2008 identified that there are considerable pressures on water resources not only in the drier East and South East of England, but throughout England and Wales. With respect to household demand for water in the UK, population density and population growth place significant pressure on resources in some areas. The Environment Agency predicts that future demand will be significantly affected by climate change and population growth. It estimates that climate change will increase domestic demand for water by between 2 and 4 percent by the 2050s. Further, it estimates that a forecast population growth of five million people in England and Wales by 2020 could increase household demand for water by 6 percent. This in turn will place extra constraints on supply to industry.

Water scarcity transcends a wide spectrum of issues. The relationship between water use and its social, economic and environmental impacts is complex and cannot be viewed in isolation. Strong regional differences between places with water abundance and water scarcity, seasonality, trade imperatives as well as social and economic considerations all have a bearing on broader sustainability outcomes.

The food and drink manufacturing industry is a significant user of water. It is estimated that the UK food sector's demand for water from the public water supply is about 430 mega litres[5] per day, and directly abstracts about 260 mega litres of water per day[6]. Defra estimates that this amounts to about 10% of all industrial use.

Water an essential ingredient in many food and drink products. It is also used in food and drink preparation, production and cleaning processes. However, the food and drink manufacturing industry can help to conserve water to alleviate water stress providing food safety and hygiene is not compromised.

Footnotes:
1. Defined as “where demand exceeds exploitable resources under sustainable conditions” (European Union)
2. For example, California, China, India, Australia and Indonesia
3. World Economic Forum and European Environmental Agency
4. Environment Agency, Water resources in England and Wales – current state and future pressures (December 2008)
5. A mega litre is 1,000,000 litres
6. Report of the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy Champions Group of Water, May 2007