The chief executive of the Environment Agency issued a grim warning to BBC Countryfile viewers as he said Britain was running out of water. The programme was told a 'perfect storm' of climate change, rising populations and leaking pipes would lead to water supplies running out in some areas by 2050.
House building is already being delayed by concerns over water shortages. Wildlife in some areas is already being impacted by reduced water supplies. The last reservoir was built in Derbyshire in 1991 and another is planned in Hampshire, but the programme said more were needed.
Presenter Tom Heap said: "As far back as the long hot summer of 1976 we've experience shortages of our water supplies and now a perfect storm of growing populations, climate change and leaking pipes means we could risk running out of water across the UK. In England alone by 2050 there's a chance that 1 in 4 chance will have water supplies cut off because of drought."
