London’s running dry

These are, of course, pressing concerns. But some services face almost existential challenges. Thames Water has the responsibility of supplying clean drinkable water as well as waste services to more than 15 million people every single day – for houses, offices, schools and hospitals. But it’s estimated that in its current state of repair, the network can guarantee that supply for only another 30 years.

London’s ageing pipe network is made up of more than 139,000 kilometres of water and waste pipes – enough to traverse the globe 3.5 times – with thousands of these pipes dating back to the 1800s and 1900s. The combination of a continuously growing population and the changing climate are putting huge strains on the network.

One of Thames Water’s biggest challenges is dealing with leaks. Concerted action needs to be taken now or London could run dry. Reducing leakage is part of the solution, but Thames Water cannot easily replace the whole network.