2.2 - Water supply and control in the UK

2.2 - Water supply and control in the UK

1. Supply and Demand

   • Most precipitation falls on the uplands (Western England + Scotland)
   • Heaviest demand lies in the heavily industrialised and urban regions of the low lands (Eastern England + SE England)

2. Shortage management

   • Water Authorities Act (1973) - set up larger regional water authorities
     • Authorities manage features such as industrial waste disposal, pollution and flood control along with inland fisheries and water recreation
     • Within these authorities a number of 'water supply only' companies have been formed serving local areas
       • E.g. The Cambridge Water Company
   • 1989 - New Water Act
     • Water services placed under 10 new privatised regional water companies
     • Rivers + groundwater regulatory and conservation functions taken on by National Rivers Authority (NRA)
       • Makes surface and ground water supply
   • Water also pumped from upland reservoirs

3. 4 major problems for water companies:

   • Water pollution
   • Concern for conservation
   • Growing demand for water
   • Stability and flood control
   • Causes and solutions to these issues
     • Water supplies
       • Population increase puts strain on supplies
       • A balanced approach required
     • Control of flooding
       • Cause - combination of abnormal weather and increased human activity in areas at risk
       • Engineering - limited due to capital - can only reduce flooding risks to an extent
       • Better land management and planning controls
       • Area near North Sea worse affected
         • Low lying land is sinking
       • Sea defences help
       • Thames Barrier - built 1983 - cost £730 million
         • Still liable to flooding every 50 yrs
           • Est £3.5 billion damage without it!

4. How does human activity affect hydrological cycle?

   • Building dams - interrupts and modifies surface water flow
   • Using water for irrigation
     • Lowering the water table through over-abstraction of water
   • Domestic and industrial use
     • Pollution of water
   • Modifying vegetation affects run-off transpiration rates