Leading article: Weather vane
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.We trust everyone was enjoying the fine weather this week. But to anyone in the south of England looking forward to more of the same this summer: be careful of what you wish for. The South is facing its worst drought in a century. A ban on the use of water for all "non-essential" purposes in Surrey, Sussex and Kent is expected soon. Some 13 million people in the region are already banned from using hoses.
Car washers and window cleaners fear they could go out of business. The organisers of the Chelsea Flower Show have been forced to drill for water. There is even a question mark over Wimbledon. It is perhaps a blessing that England did not win the right to host the 2006 World Cup, considering that football pitches might have to go unwatered. Worse could be in store too if the South experiences a dry summer. The dreaded standpipes could return.
A familiar debate about the ethics of shopping one's neighbours for illicit hosepipe use has begun; so too have the complaints about the scandalous amounts water companies lose every day. But in the greater scheme of things, these issues are little more than distractions. Half a million new homes are scheduled to be built in the parched counties of the South over the next decade. Britain's water use is growing at more than 1 per cent a year. We must begin to think now about conserving more water. A good start would be to begin paying for it by volume, like our European neighbours.
If our water supplies continue to run short, we will soon begin to dread, rather than relish, warm, dry spring days.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments