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26
Aug 2021
Last Updated: 25/08/2021
Yorkshire Water's grim outlook for Fewston Reservoir in 50 years
Rather than a reservoir filled to the brim with water popular with walkers, the image shows how the Washburn Valley could dry up and become more like a desert.
What Fewston Reservoir could look like in 50 years time.
Yorkshire Water has released a mock up of what Fewston Reservoir could look like in 50 years after the effects of climate change.
Rather than a reservoir filled to the brim with water popular with walkers, the image shows how the Washburn Valley could dry up and resemble a desert.
It comes as Yorkshire Water predicts that it will have 100 million fewer litres in its daily supply by 2045.
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To try and tackle the issue, the water company is currently trialling new technology to find leaks more quickly and reduce the water lost by 50% by 2050.
Yorkshire Water continues to ask customers to do their bit by turning off the tap when brushing teeth, opting for a shower instead of a bath and using a watering can instead of a hose.
Martin Christmas, yorkshire environment manager for the Environment Agency, said:
“What we do with water and how much we use directly impacts people and the environment, including many of the places we care most about – our rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
“We need to be careful with our water supply. With the weather we experience in the UK it’s easy to think there’s enough to go round.
"But when you factor in the effects of climate change and population growth, there is a very real risk of water shortages by 2050.
"Every individual can make a difference; changing some of our daily habits can play a critical role in protecting our water resources.”
Suzanne Dunn, water resources strategy manager at Yorkshire Water, said:
“We can already see and feel the impacts of climate change all around us.
"Seeing what our reservoirs and environment could look like in 50 years’ time might be surprising and scary to some people, but the important thing to note is that it’s not too late for us to change that future.
“We’re making headway on our leakage reduction plans, and together with our water-savvy customers, it could really make a difference to the future of water resources.”
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