Fear we’ll run out of water because of ‘ridiculous’ pools
GIANT paddling pools are threatening drinking water supplies as the climate warms, experts say.
Scientists in the industry have criticised the use of paddling pools which can hold a week’s worth of water for a family of four.
Miranda Foster, a senior hydrologist at Yorkshire Water, said it may even be necessary to restrict the use of paddling pools to protect supplies, but admitted a ban would be impossible to police.
She said: “Paddling pools are a genuine concern. There are some paddling pools that are ridiculously big. One paddling pool can hold a week’s worth of water for a family of four.
“Climate change is leading to hotter drier summers so there’s less resource and higher demand.
“The widespread use of paddling pools increases the likelihood of drinking water running out.there’s a general perception that water is from the sky and it’s free, and there’s a lot of it, what’s the problem? But we need more education and understanding.
“People aren’t aware of the consequences. If they were, they would have water butts in their gardens and they wouldn’t go to Argos and buy giant paddling pools.
“You can buy giant paddling pools for 50p – which is wrong.”
The UK experienced the driest May on record this year, leading to increased fears of hosepipe bans being imposed.
High levels of rain in June prevented the need for restrictions, but reservoir levels remain below the long-term average for the time of year.
A quarter of reservoirs stocks in England have been classed “notably low or exceptionally low” by the Environment Agency. Under climate change projections, the UK is expected to experience more frequent heatwaves and increasingly dry summers.
A report this month by the Public Accounts House of Commons select committee said there was “a serious risk that some parts of the country will run out of water within the next 20 years”.
Last year, Sir James Bevan, the chief executive of the Environment Agency, said that in 20 or 25 years the UK would enter the “jaws of death” – the point at which there is not enough water to meet public demand.
The agency has predicted that, if nothing is done, the country will need an extra 3.4 billion litres of water a day by 2050 to meet the needs of the population.