Again, for those at the back, as the ‘we need more reservoirs’ stale voice choir chirp up yet again as 2025 looks increasingly likely to have a drought formally declared …. you don’t.
You really don’t.
Because relative to the size of the wastage problem, the efforts and expenditure on doing anything about it are miniscule.
So go ahead and build your super-duper new reservoir but its contents will still piss out above and below ground by the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF LITRES PER DAY between reservoir and tap.
I tried (but failed 🙄) to get a regional BBC radio presenter to wrap his head round the issue in 2023 by using the analogy of buying a bigger bath every five years but never buying a plug.
But anyway, watch this space this spring and summer as water companies ration your water use whilst doing the bare minimum legally imposed upon them to stop the wastage.
For the stats geeks amongst you, the equivalent capacity of all 3 Upper Derwent Valley reservoirs (464billion litres) is wasted by Severn Trent Water every 3.3yrs ….
but do remember to only flush the 🚽 weekly now won’t you good citizens.