Spotlight On: Water Stress & Scarcity In Essex

Water stress and scarcity is not an equal problem in the UK and some parts of the country fare worse than others. Essex in particular is vulnerable to water challenges, with larger volumes of water consumed per person on average than the majority of England.

Interestingly, just three-fifths of the potable water consumed in the county actually comes from local water sources. The rest is brought in from elsewhere so that domestic use, agriculture, horticulture, leisure pursuits and food processing, as well as power generation, can all be supported.

As much stress as water supplies in Essex are currently under, it’s expected that pressure will increase over time, in line with climate change, population growth and the need to restore and enhance the natural environment.

Come 2050, it’s predicted that the east of England could see supply shortages of approximately 730 million litres of water per day – but it’s not just water quantity that’s of concern.

Water quality in Essex is also below the national average, as a result of construction and traffic runoff, pollution from fertiliser use and poor livestock management, and storm overflows discharging sewage into water supplies.

What is being done to protect Essex’s water resources?

There are various approaches that are now being adopted to help address water resources and water quality issues in Essex:

Reducing water demand

Identifying measures to reduce water demand is essential – and everyone has their own individual part to play, from businesses to individuals alike.

Essex County Council’s environment and climate action plan sets out how it plans to address this, including the introduction of smart meter technology to reduce water leaks… an essential step given that, nationwide, three billion litres of water on average is lost to leaks each day.

In Maldon, for example, a new Long Range Wide Area Network has been installed on street lighting columns, which sends out water meter data so that leaks can be detected more quickly, reducing water waste and helping customers save money.

The first 50 of these gateways were installed in Chelmsford in December 2024 and more are due to be set up across the county in the near future, helping to safeguard water resources but also potentially for traffic management, air quality control and energy conservation, as well.

Changing land use for water

Elsewhere, the council is looking into how land use can evolve to work more harmoniously with nature and being more thoughtful about when land is used or developed to take water supply and quality into account.

This approach includes measures such as incorporating green infrastructure such as more trees and hedges on developed land, as well as reducing flood risk and improving water quality through the use of wetlands and sustainable urban drainage systems.

Developing new water sources

It will also be necessary to develop new water sources, such as reservoir construction and water transfer from places where there’s a surplus to those in deficit. Desalination and the reuse/recycling of water will also prove beneficial in this regard.

How can businesses help save water?

It can be quite alarming to think about the water crisis, but it can also be quite galvanising, inspiring you to take action as a business and do all you can to reduce your water footprint to safeguard resources for future generations.

The added benefit of prioritising water sustainability and improving water management practices across the board is that you’ll be able to save money in doing so, as well as improving your business reputation and boosting your green credentials.

There’s a growing body of research showing that consumers are increasingly interested in spending their hard-earned money with companies that are eco-conscious and environmentally friendly (without greenwashing, of course)… so if you’re keen to thrive and grow in the future, making this a priority focus would perhaps be an advisable course of action.

But in order to start saving water, you need to know how much you’re using and where you’re using it – which is where a water audit truly comes into its own.

This is something we can do on your behalf, comparing water use (including volumes) with what you’re being charged for.

This will reveal any potential issues that could have resulted  in you being overcharged, as well as allowing us to recommend the most appropriate steps to take to reduce water usage, lower costs and protect the environment.

If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the SwitchWaterSupplier.com team today.