Water scarcity often grabs societies attention when the climate is hot and dry, but should society consider this challenge when the weather is wet, and temperatures are cooler? We posed this question to two Artesia experts, Rob Lawson and Cristina Munilla, and summarise their views below.
Water scarcity is a challenge in wet and cooler conditions largely due to the geographies and design of water resource systems in the UK. The geographical context and topography of the UK is the foundation of how we collect, store, and transport water resources. Most of our systems (even those that rely on natural groundwater storage) rely on rainfall in autumn and winter, to reach capacity. There are then (usually) enough stored resources to keep the taps flowing in the summer months, when demand rises. However, uneven rainfall distribution and seasonal variability mean that we never know what is around the corner, even in a ‘wetter’ year. A drier autumn or winter could reduce available water resources as we approach warmer drier months, or we could really need all the resources we can get ahead of a hot, dry summer. All this means water scarcity is a constant risk for society.
In addition to this, water scarcity can quickly become a challenge in densely populated areas, as risks arise not just from the availability of water resources but the ability for our water resource systems to meet peak demand. A short period of hot and dry conditions can result in demand skyrocketing, and while water may be available, the infrastructure may not be able to physically meet the rising demand, leading to water scarcity challenges not from the availability of water but from the infrastructures required to keep our taps flowing.
Overall, the situation in the UK can very quickly change from one year to the next, with climate change intensifying the challenge we face. As a society we need to embed sustainable water management, come rain or shine; this ranges from increased public awareness of water scarcity, to deeper social norm and water use shifts, to infrastructure and water storage investments, all supporting the resilience of our water resource systems.
If you’d like to discuss water scarcity in more detail, and how our team of experts can support your work on the subject please get in touch via https://artesia-consulting.co.uk/contact-us/
Rob Lawson is a Director at Artesia and chair of the CIWEM Water Resources Technical Panel, with over 30 years’ experience in the water industry. His experience with water scarcity is extensive, including works to support Ofwat, DEFRA, The EA, and Water Companies to understand the impacts of water scarcity on water resources and the long-term implications for demand.
Cristina Munilla is a Senior Data Scientist and Research and Innovation Lead at Artesia and have worked on a variety of water scarcity projects at Artesia, often leading on the technical delivery; work includes analysis of water demand under extreme weather conditions, evaluation of the impact of water saving campaigns and temporary use bans (TUBs) on water resources.
