Main impacts of climate change
- Precipitation. Changing rainfall patterns may make it harder to meet demand and could increase the risk of droughts affecting the supply of water.
- Abstraction. Higher temperatures and less rainfall in the summer means there will be more stress on already scarce water resources when they are needed the most.
- Treatment. More frequent heavy downpours and changes to the ecology of rivers may reduce the quality of the water we take from the environment, requiring more treatment.
- Distribution. Key assets may be at greater risk of being flooded and changes in soil moisture levels may lead to changing patterns of pipe bursts and leaks.
- Consumption. As the climate warms, demand for water is likely to increase from both household and non-household consumers. In some areas, there may also be increased competition for raw water resources from other sectors, especially during the summer months.
- Drainage. Changing rainfall patterns challenge the current approach to drainage. Climate change will increase the risk of surface water flooding and sewer flooding, which is one of the most serious types of service failure. Climate change may also increase the damage caused by overflows of untreated wastewater into the environment.
- Wastewater treatment and discharge. Reduced river flows could mean more carbon-intensive sewage treatment is required to ensure rivers are protected.
Find out more about UK climate projections and the science of climate change.
