Aylesbury residents not aware of water source
Thames Water say knowing where water comes from makes people more conscious of waste
Most people in Aylesbury are unaware of where their water comes from.
A new survey by Thames Water shows people in Aylesbury think less about where it comes from than people in nearby places like Reading, Oxford, High Wycombe and Henley.
Head of environmental engagement at Thames Water, Yvette De Garis, said:
“When top quality water is available 24/7 it’s easy to take it for granted and not link what we use with where it comes from.
"Aylesbury’s water is pumped in from far away, so residents don’t see a local treatment works and, as the River Thames isn’t a major feature in the town, they don’t see an obvious water source either, so we suspect this is why fewer people think about these things than in places like Henley.
“No matter where you live though, every drop comes from a natural source and the majority is water that would otherwise have found its way into a river or stream. Climate change along with population growth means water resources are being seriously stretched and to protect the environment we’re having to reduce what we take from rivers and aquifers so we all have to be more mindful of the water we use than ever before.”
Aylesbury receives most of its water from treatment sites around 20 miles away in Hambledon near Henley-on-Thames and Bourne End near Marlow, as well as some from Hawridge near Chesham.
These treatment sites take groundwater from chalk aquifers – natural layers of underground rock, which contain water.
Chalk aquifers play an important role in keeping rare and precious chalk streams, like the River Chess, heathy to support wildlife including water voles and brown trout.
In the last 30 years Thames Water has reduced abstraction from the Chiltern’s chalk streams by more than 60 per cent.
In 2020 the company pledged to go even further to protect them including stopping all abstraction from Hawridge on the River Chess by the end of 2024 by investing £40m in infrastructure to bring water in from areas where abstraction does not affect chalk streams.
The project will reduce total abstractions from the Chiltern chalk streams by 80 per cent compared to 1990.
The Thames Water survey also revealed less than half (47.7%) of those questioned in Aylesbury are trying to cut back on their water use while around two thirds (63%) admit they’re not worried about the amount of water they use.
Yvette added:
“To protect the environment, including precious chalk streams, we have to cut back on the amount of water we take from rivers and aquifers to leave more to help natural ecosystems thrive.
"To make it happen we’re reducing leakage from our pipes and adapting how we manage the water available to us, but we need everyone to do their bit and use less, particularly during hot and dry weather when the rivers, streams and the wildlife they support can be vulnerable.
"By helping them link their water use to the environment, we’re confident more people will commit to making small changes that can make a big difference.
“Simple things like only using a dishwasher or washing machine on a full load and fixing dripping taps and leaky loos can all make a huge difference. Popping a bucket in the shower while the water warms up and then using it on the plants is another easy win.”