- The amount of water used in the UK
- Depleting water supplies in the UK
 

Our existence and development depends on water. It dictates the location and survival of civilisations. But few understand the role it plays and the amount that is required to feed ourselves and the implication that can have on others.

Globally, agriculture is the biggest user of freshwater. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates it accounts for 70% of global freshwater use.

Irrigation will play a greater role in global food production in coming decades. As the population continues to grow, we will need more efficient water management techniques.

The demand for water has increased vastly over recent decades. According to World Meteorological Organization, global water consumption has increased six times between 1900 and 1995; this is more than double the rate of population growth.

United Nations Population Division experts predict that water scarcity will rise to between 50 and 65% by 2025.

Around 40% of the global population currently lives in water stressed areas. With a population increase of 3 billion people predicted by 2050, water scarcity will become a matter of life or death.

The Economist reported in September 2008 that the bank JPMorgan believes that the five major food and beverage companies consume about 575 billion litres of water a year, enough to satisfy the daily water needs of every person on Earth.
 

The amount of water used in the UK

At a national level agriculture is not the main user of freshwater. The Environment Agency estimates that it accounts for only around 3% of UK freshwater use. Industry and households are the major users. From an industry perspective, the food industry comprising manufacturing, retail, service and wholesale sectors, is a major water user.

Envirowise has calculated that the water usage in the UK Food and Drink sector is currently 307 million cubic metres per year. This equates to 24% of the total water used by industry and commerce in the UK and nearly 5% of the total water used in the UK.
 

Depleting water supplies in the UK

It is estimated that each of us in the UK uses about 150 litres of water a day. Waterwise, an independent, not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation and a leading authority on water efficiency in the UK, estimates the level of water usage in the UK has been rising by 1% every year since 1930. This level of consumption is not sustainable in the long-term. If we do not take action the UK will face increased water stress in the future.

Over the past 100 years the UK has lost 75% of its ponds and floodplain grasslands. With depleting natural water supplies, the majority of water used in the UK comes from abroad.

However, according to Waterwise around 70% of the UK’s water footprint is from overseas. This is because the goods that the UK imports have vast amounts of embedded water within them. Embedded water refers to the amount of water required to produce a good.