West coast to take brunt of climate impact on resources says report

A report commissioned by the Committee for Climate Change has warned that falling river flows will mean catchments in the UK will fail to meet targets for water available for consumption.

The report: Updated projections of future water availability for the third UK

Climate Change Risk Assessment said catchments at risk of “negative available resource” will be along the west coast of the UK with Wales being hardest hit.

Based on a central projection for population growth and existing adaptation scenarios, with 4°C global warming, the report projects 22 catchments across the UK (mostly in Wales), will have negative resource availability in the middle of the century. By late century that projection rises to 74 including catchments in the south west of England, far north of England, western Scotland,

The report said mid-century supply deficits in UK water resource zones due to climate change and population growth will, in the “vast majority” of cases be in England, with those in the south east the worst affected. It forecasts deficits of about 200Ml/d attributable to a 2°C global temperature rise and 470Ml/d of impact under a 4°C increase.

A 4°C temperature rise would create deficits in Water Resources South East, Water Resources North and Water Resources East under a central population projection with no additional demand side adaptation.