In 2025, it’s easy to forget that even in the UK, water security is a cause for concern. While globally, around 703 million people still live without access to safe drinking water, the UK isn’t immune to water stress – especially with rising demand and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. According to the Environment Agency, parts of England could run out of water within 20 years if no action is taken.
And it’s not just about drinking water. Sanitation, water infrastructure and waste are big issues too. The average person in the UK uses around 142 litres of water per day, much of it flushed straight down the loo. That’s a lot of clean, treated water quite literally going to waste.
Add in climate change – drier summers, flash floods, and aging reservoirs – and it’s clear that water security isn’t something we can ignore. Thames Water, for instance, has already had to impose hosepipe bans in some areas and regulators have warned that demand could outstrip supply by the mid-2030s.
Cars That Emit Water (And Nothing Else)
Hydrogen-powered vehicles, once seen as futuristic, are now being trialled across the UK. Companies like Toyota and Hyundai have hydrogen models on the road, with the UK government investing over £200 million in low-emission transport and fuelling infrastructure. These cars generate electricity using hydrogen and oxygen, emitting only water vapour. They’re still rare compared to electric vehicles, but they’re part of a wider clean transport push.
Desalination in the UK?
While desalination is still more common in arid regions, the UK does have one major plant—the Beckton desalination plant in East London, which can supply up to 150 million litres of drinking water per day during drought conditions. It’s a backup plan more than a daily necessity, but as climate pressures increase, the role of such technology is likely to grow.
When All You Really Need is a Water Cooler
Still, for most of us, there’s no need to filter seawater or retrofit your car with hydrogen cells just to stay hydrated. Keep things simple by replenishing your drinking water from your water cooler or water dispenser. No desalination or hydrogen tanks required – just good‑old refreshing water. If your office supply isn’t hitting the mark, contact AquAid for cool, convenient hydration you can rely on.
Sources
Environment Agency’s water supply warning: from an article at The Times
Hosepipe bans in the Thames Valley: from Thames Water, Homebuilding
£200 million for low‑emission transport and refuelling infrastructure: from transportldp.co.uk, GOV.UK
£500 million for hydrogen network infrastructure: reported by Government Business
Beckton desalination capacity and usage: from Wikipedia, Everything Explained Today
