Huw James, Aldershot Socialist Party
The drought situation in England has continued to worsen over the past two weeks. According to the Environment Agency, reservoir levels are exceptionally low and are continuing to decline in many areas. On 15 October, the government declared severe drought in parts of southern England, and there are growing concerns that farmers may not be able to refill water storage reservoirs over the winter.
The ongoing drought is caused by a combination of persistent low rainfall, record-breaking high temperatures, accelerated soil and water evaporation, and long-term infrastructure pressures. Historical underinvestment in new reservoir capacity and high rates of pipe leakage have left water supplies extremely vulnerable during dry spells.
This was the year that, for many, the climate threat became real. Human-caused climate change has shifted seasonal weather patterns, making hotter, drier summers and extreme heatwaves significantly more frequent and intense. As a recent leader in the New Scientist points out, we would be fools not to prepare our infrastructure now for future severe weather.
Despite an increased demand for water, no new reservoirs have been opened in the UK since 1991. The main reason for this is the privatisation of the water industry, which shifted focus toward short-term profits and away from long-term investments. Privatisation created a fragmented industry where no single actor has either the resources or motivation to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects.
Leaky pipes are also a major issue in the UK, with three billion litres of water lost daily across the grid. This is not just a waste of water; it also creates other issues such as structural damage to buildings, health hazards caused by mould, and water contamination. Again, the lack of action in fixing this issue is down to the prioritisation of profits over infrastructure improvements.
The problems outlined above all have the same underlying cause. Capitalism is causing climate change and is incapable of shifting from fossil fuels to renewables. It is an unplanned system run to maximise the profits of a tiny few. Opening up sections of the economy to profit was the reason Margaret Thatcher privatised water in the 80s, the reason for our ageing infrastructure.
We need to immediately renationalise the water companies, with no compensation for the fat cats who have got rich from our bills – only those with proven need. We need to take into public hands the banks, big businesses and polluting industries. Then we could democratically draw up a socialist plan of production that protects the environment and our livelihoods. It is only through socialist change that we will prevent climate catastrophe and build a world which is habitable for all.
