Nine in ten adults in Wales don’t know how much water they use, survey finds
Nine in ten adults in Wales don’t know how much water they really use, according to a new survey.
The average person believes they use around 30 litres of water a day, when the true figure is closer to 140.
Llyr Gruffydd MS, one of the Senedd’s Clwyd members and Wales’ Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, has backed a new campaign to close that gap.
The Dewch i Arbed Dŵr, or Let’s Save Water, campaign launched on 30 June with the backing of scientists, environmental experts and industry leaders.
The findings come from a YouGov survey of 1,040 adults across Wales, which found 92% either underestimate or do not know how much water they use each day.
More than half of those surveyed, 56%, believe water shortages in Wales are only short-term, such as during hot weather.
Just over a third, 34%, said they felt their own water use made little difference at a national level.
The campaign warns that climate change, population growth and rising demand are putting increasing pressure on water resources in Wales.
Organisers said warmer, drier summers and wetter winters mean less water is reliably available for homes, businesses and the environment, despite Wales’s reputation for rain.
Mr Gruffydd, Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, said:
“Water is one of our most valuable natural assets, and how we use it every day really counts.”
“Climate change has the potential to impact our water supplies.”
“We want to strengthen our resilience so future generations inherit a nation where water is valued and used wisely.”
“Small changes, taken together, can make a real and lasting difference.”
Mary Lewis, Head of Natural Resource Management Policy at Natural Resources Wales, said:
“While Wales may be known for its rainfall, climate change and shifting weather patterns means water may not always be reliable all year-round in the future.”
“We’ve seen in recent years the strain this has placed on our natural environment with pressure on wildlife, habitats and waterways, as well as communities.”
“Every drop we waste at home or work, is less water to keep our rivers and wildlife healthy.”
Professor Lizzie Kendon, Strategic Head of Climate Processes and Projections at the Met Office, said:
“More rainfall doesn’t automatically mean more usable water.”
“Climate change is driving increasingly extreme weather patterns, with wetter winters, drier summers, and more intense bursts of rainfall.”
Chris Walters, Chief Executive at Ofwat, said:
“Investment in new infrastructure and reducing leaks is essential, but lasting resilience also depends on changing our relationship with water and becoming stewards of our natural environment.”
More information on the campaign is available at letssavewater.wales.
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