Changing weather patterns, population growth and evolving regulation increase has left the country heading for a "water crunch" which could have a potentially devastating effect on UK horticulture, according to experts.

The warning comes from sustainability experts Envirowise and follows research which found that 70 per cent of sustainability specialists consider the threat of dwindling water supplies to be equal to the impact of carbon emissions, while 54 per cent believe the world will run out of water before it runs out of fuel.

It is predicted that UK groundwater will begin to decrease by 2025, with the overall amount of water available in English and Welsh rivers reducing by 15 per cent by 2050. Some areas in the South East already have less available water per person than Spain and Morocco.

Even businesses based in regions with higher water availability could feel the effect through their supply chains, while many companies could face changes to licences granted to allow water abstraction as a result of the Water Act 2003.

Envirowise water specialist Claire Sweeney said: “Water is set to become one of the most dramatically affected resources as the impact of climate change takes hold, but many businesses are not aware of the steps they can take to mitigate against this risk.

“Food and drink companies should explore practical steps including water saving devices and water recovery and reuse technology such as membrane filtration systems, which enable a large proportion of wastewater to be reused for processes such as heating, cooling and cleaning. This can result in major cost savings through lower mains water and disposal charges, as well as an enhanced environmental reputation with customers and investors.

“Taking such action now could not only pay enormous dividends in future years, it can also lead to short-term benefits. In fact, recent Envirowise research revealed that UK companies could be missing out on combined savings of up to £10 million per day by failing to make changes in this area.”

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