The UK is running out of drinking water. Yes, really. The UK is one of the wettest countries in Europe. Yet by 2055, England could face a 5 billion litre daily water shortfall without urgent action. So how did we get here? We have spent decades over-abstracting our rivers, draining wetlands, and failing to build new reservoirs. At the same time, temperatures are rising, droughts are becoming more frequent, and demand for water continues to grow. When it does rain, our landscapes no longer hold water as they should. Hardened cities, deforested hills, and degraded soils send water rushing into the sea - often causing floods along the way. But there is hope. With the right leadership and investment, this crisis is solvable. We can fix leaking pipes, restore wetlands, reduce abstraction, reuse water, and work with nature to store it in the landscape. What we need now is urgent action. It is time to declare a national freshwater emergency and deliver a funded plan to secure our water future. Because if we don’t act now, Britain will run dry. #WorldWaterDay
