The UK's water industry is broken – here's how to fix it

As periods of drought become more common, the consequences of an ill functioning water sector will be severe. malgosia janicka/Shutterstock

Prolonged periods of intense heat affected large parts of the UK and Europe this summer. These conditions forced parts of the UK into an official drought, with restrictions on water use imposed for the first time since 2012. Despite recent autumnal weather, parts of the country remain firmly in drought.

Droughts are increasingly a feature of the UK’s climate. The UK has experienced at least three major drought episodes since 2000. The risk has grown so acute that, unless action is taken, in around 25 years England will be unable to supply its own water needs.