Confronting the UK's Water Crisis: How Smart Monitoring Can Drive Conservation
The UK is currently grappling with an escalating water crisis. We are currently experiencing our driest year since 1997, with rainfall levels across the country at 29% below average by mid-May 2025. This marks the seventh-driest year since records began in 1931. Reservoirs are approximately 84% full, and river flows are exceptionally low, prompting the Environment Agency to issue a medium drought risk warning. These conditions are raising concerns about water shortages across the UK and indeed, globally.
The Hidden Culprit: Water Wastage
While climate change and reduced rainfall are significant factors, a substantial culprit of unnecessary waste is the amount of water lost due to infrastructure inefficiencies and consumer habits. In England and Wales, water companies lose approximately 3 billion litres of water daily through leaky pipes.
One example of a necessary risk monitoring practice, that can be quite wasteful of water, is Legionella risk management. Traditional Legionella risk-minimising practices often require running taps for minutes at a time, in large facilities such as hospitals, campuses and care homes, leading to the wastage of hundreds of litres of clean water per outlet each month.
Smarter water monitoring solutions now offer a more targeted approach, reducing unnecessary consumption and conserving water without compromising safety.
A Proactive Solution: Smart Water Monitoring
Addressing these challenges requires innovative solutions that go beyond traditional methods. Smart water monitoring systems offer real-time insights into water usage patterns, enabling the detection of leaks and unusual consumption behaviours promptly.
For instance, advanced sensors can monitor both temperature and flow, identifying issues like taps left running or underused outlets that may pose health risks. By providing instant alerts and actionable data, these systems empower facilities teams to respond swiftly, reducing water waste and enhancing safety.
Empowering Change with Cortense
Infersens' Cortense system exemplifies this proactive approach. By combining temperature and flow monitoring, Cortense delivers comprehensive insights into water usage, helping to identify inefficiencies and potential risks. Its user-friendly dashboard and real-time alerts facilitate immediate action, promoting water conservation and compliance.
Cortense dashboard with real-time water monitoring
Conclusion
As the UK faces increasing water scarcity, embracing smart monitoring technologies is crucial. By addressing leaks, overconsumption, and inefficiencies, we can make significant strides toward water conservation and resilience.
