Could the UK run out of drinking water? Experts say 'fast changes' needed

Experts are warning that without "fast changes" the UK could run out of drinking water in the future.

The first seven months of 2025 were the driest since 1976, with reservoirs across England only 56.1% full on average, according to the Environment Agency.

"I think that we do need to worry about the fact that there is this possibility we could run out," Hannah Cloke, professor of hydrology from Reading University, told Sky News.

"It's only if we start thinking like that, that we're going to start conserving our water, otherwise we just take it completely for granted.

"It is all of our fault, we have not been paying attention to what's going on… we need some very fast changes to the way that we are using water and the way that we're storing water in order to stop this being a problem in the future, because our summers are only going to get hotter."

By 2050, the government says that England could face a shortfall of five billion litres of water every day.

'Growing pressure' on water system

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: "This government recognises the growing pressure on our water system and is taking decisive action.

"We're delivering over £104bn of private investment to fix leaking pipes, build nine new reservoirs and secure our water supply for the future."

Latest figures suggest that around 2,690 megalitres of water is lost every day in England through leaks - the equivalent of 1,076 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Read more from Sky News:
Scottish government 'utterly irresponsible' over bottle return scheme
Cow burps have a big impact on global warming

'We have invested an extra £10m'

"Leaks are a really important issue for us. We have invested an extra £10m just to deal with the weather that we've seen this summer," said Dr Geoff Darch, head of strategic asset planning for Anglian Water.

Anglian Water is also hoping to build two new reservoirs in the East of England.

"We don't want to stop people using water, it is absolutely essential for everything that we need it to do," Dr Darch said.

"But I think we've got to a point now where we have to realise that water is a precious resource, it's something that we all have to look after so that we have it for future generations and for the environment and with climate change and drought, we will need more reservoirs."

Concerns about 'whole system starting to collapse'

In August, the UK received just 62% of its average rainfall, according to the Met Office, which is leading a group of residents to monitor their water stocks closely.

"We collect all our own water from the rain, and so if we don't have the rain that's a significant issue," explained Simon Tilly, director of the Hockerton eco housing project in Nottinghamshire.

He told Sky News they were working together to use less water.

"I suppose I'm most concerned about the whole system starting to collapse. There's potential for longer droughts and us having a lot of water stress, there's potential for a lot of floods when the drought finishes… and just generally that system going into random patterns where we're getting more droughts and more floods," he added.

(c) Sky News 2025: Could the UK run out of drinking water? Experts say 'fast changes' needed