Water companies in southern England are facing criticism for failing to act on climate change forecasts made nearly three decades ago, which predicted increased summer drying in the region. The criticism comes as much of England is officially in drought, with a fifth heatwave looming.
1998 Met Office Forecasts Ignored
In 1998, Steve Lindsay, now emeritus professor of public health entomology at Durham University, attended the release of the Meteorological Office's first forecasts on climate change impacts on the UK. He recalls that many representatives from southern England's water companies were present. The Met Office modelling indicated a general tendency for summer drying in the south of the UK and more rapid warming in the south-east.
Lindsay argues that water boards should have taken these scientific predictions seriously and begun planning and constructing reservoirs 28 years ago. Instead, he claims, they prioritized profits for shareholders over long-term infrastructure investments.
Current Drought and Criticism
The comments follow a report that three-quarters of England is in drought as the summer's fifth heatwave approaches. Southern water companies have expressed surprise at the severity of the situation, despite the earlier warnings.
In a letter to the Guardian, Lindsay stated: "They should have paid more attention to the science and started the planning and building of reservoirs 28 years ago instead of putting their profits into the pockets of their shareholders."
Alternative Solutions Proposed
Another letter writer, Martin Gray from Radley, Oxfordshire, suggested that the UK's island geography offers an obvious solution: solar-powered desalination. He questioned why this option is not being discussed, given the country's abundant surrounding seawater.
The letters highlight growing public frustration with water management in the face of climate change, urging both immediate and long-term actions to secure water supplies.
