How will tomorrow’s trends reshape how we consume water? What effect will climate, technology and population have on water and day-to-day life?
Floodly machine-learning prediction tool
The product of our research and development, Floodly uses machine learning methods to predict river levels and predict flood risk using only precipitation data. Floodly’s rapid predictions complement traditional hydraulic modelling, which can be slower and more costly to apply. It is also challenging in complex urban catchments.
Coastal Flooding: let's start planning for the long-term
We all know that sea level rise is happening and also that the rate of rise is set to accelerate. There are many factors influencing this rise, one of the most significant being thermal expansion – as the sea gets warmer it expands. I think this direct correlation between a warmer world and higher sea levels is a good way of communicating the risks we face now and will face in the future.
Blog: Recycled water: overcoming the ‘yuck’ factor
Will future generations be horrified at how we use water today – treating valuable water from rivers, reservoirs and aquifers to drinkable standards, only to flush it down the toilet or wash our cars with it? As our descendants happily drink water they know has been recycled from wastewater, will they wonder what took us so long to change our ways?
In the future, will we opt for properties with a lower water impact? The Harley family have chosen to retrofit their property to make it more water efficient.
What will water scarcity mean day-to-day? Water footprinting could change the way we shop for food and water limits may encourage us to make more informed choices.
We all need to change how we think about water; it is a precious commodity to be valued highly. Unless consumers come to view it in this way – and respect and conserve it accordingly – the UK’s water services sector will not be able to meet the challenges of population growth and climate change. That, in stark terms, is the issue the industry is facing.
