Water in numbers

As pressures from population growth, and climate change increase, understanding the scale and distribution of water use in the UK becomes more critical than ever. The following statistics are taken from Savills Water Spotlight and set out in numerical terms the current landscape for water resources and the challenges ahead.

The UK experienced the driest spring in over a century, followed by a dry and hot summer which has left groundwater levels low and reservoir storage levels receding, highlighting the importance of water resilience and investment into water infrastructure.

The power of percentages

• 1% of organisations use 50% of the water in the commercial UK market.
• 40% of public pension funds are expected to increase investment allocations to infrastructure in the next 12-24 months.
• 50% of the UK's fresh food is targeted to be sourced from areas with sustainable water management.
• 65% of the water abstracted in England comes from freshwater surface sources (29.9 trillion litres), 27% from tidal waters (12.6 trillion litres) and 10% from groundwater sources (4.5 trillion litres). 
• 70% increase on current food production levels will be required to meet population growth in 2025 and with this comes an associated water demand.  
• 71% - 150% increase (from today’s levels) in water demand for agriculture in an average year by 2050. 
• 75% of the total water demand for commercial and non-household buildings could be met with recycled rainwater or grey water, thus reducing their reliance on blue water (groundwater and surface water).

From drops to trillions: Understanding water demand

• 145 litres of water per person per day are used within our homes (for drinking, cooking and washing) and around 95% of this is returned through our drainage system. 
• 90 litres per person per day by 2035 is the recommended reduction from the Future Homes Hub. 
• 2,400 litres of water per person per day is used to produce food and drinks in a typical UK diet. This is equivalent to taking 39 showers per day. 
• 5 billion extra litres of water per day will be needed by 2055¹ in order to support a growing population, food production and environmental protection.
• 47 trillion litres of water is licensed from England’s natural resources every year, the equivalent to 18.8 million Olympic sized swimming pools.

Beyond the Tap: Water, Climate, and Policy

• Five water resources regional groups have been developed in England with the aim of creating a multi-sector water resources plan; Water Resources North, Water Resources West, Water Resources East, Water Resources South East and West Country Water Resources.
• 16cm is the rise in sea levels since 1900 and this trend is predicted to continue. 
• 172 countries are reporting on the implementation of the global framework “Integrated Water Resources Management” (an approach to the management of water resources that emphasises ecosystem sustainability, social equity and economic efficiency).  
• 210 is the total number of chalk streams in existence globally, these are exceptionally rare and biodiverse habitats.
• 9.3 billion (78 million in the UK) is the expected global population by 2050, showing the need to address water scarcity alongside a growing population.

These figures highlight the urgent need for smarter water management, cross-sector collaboration, and sustainable investment. Whether it's through innovation, policy, or everyday choices, we all have a role to play in shaping a water-secure future. The numbers speak for themselves — now it's time to act on them.

Further information

Contact Jordan Rimmer or Katie Stein

¹ The original date was 2050 but this has since been updated.

Wake up to the water crisis