Introduction
The recent Channel 4 programme, Dirty Business, brought to a head concerns in the UK about the way in which our water systems are managed with out-of-date infrastructure, lack of reservoirs for storage, leaking pipes, poor sewage disposal, inadequate oversight of farm waste, frequent flooding and increasingly high water bills for our communities. As one of the few countries in the world with water management under the control of the private sector there are particular issues for the UK in that one cause of the inadequate system is the funnelling of funds to shareholders and senior management bonuses rather than investment in replacing 19th century infrastructure.
On World Water Day 22nd March 2026 WILPF UK issues this statement reflecting on the issues facing communities around the world in relation to water, which often particularly affect women who are the people fetching and carrying and using water for cooking and washing, but also noting the particular issues facing communities in the UK for whom safe, clean water is no longer a given.
Global Water Security, Gender and the UK Context – Key Issues and Recent Evidence
1. Global pressures on water systems
Freshwater systems are under growing pressure from climate change, population growth, pollution and unsustainable extraction. Recent international research suggests that many water systems are approaching critical ecological limits. A major assessment by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health warns that the world has entered what it calls an era of “global water bankruptcy.”
The report Global Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era (2026) argues that rivers, aquifers, glaciers and wetlands are being depleted faster than they can regenerate.
Key findings include:
- Around three quarters of the global population now lives in water-insecure regions.
- Groundwater resources in many areas are being extracted faster than they recharge.
- Climate change is intensifying hydrological extremes, including floods and droughts.
- Ecosystem degradation is weakening the natural systems that regulate water availability.
The report emphasises that addressing water insecurity requires systemic changes in water governance, infrastructure investment and ecosystem protection.
Report link: https://unu.edu/inweh/collection/global-water-bankruptcy
2. Climate change and the global water cycle
Climate change is fundamentally altering the global water cycle. Changes in precipitation patterns, glacier loss and increased evaporation are affecting water availability in many regions. The UNESCO flagship assessment, the United Nations World Water Development Report 2025, focuses on the role of mountains and glaciers as critical sources of freshwater.
The report highlights that:
- Mountain regions function as global “water towers”, supplying freshwater to billions of people.
- Accelerating glacier melt is changing seasonal river flows and long-term water availability.
- Communities dependent on glacier-fed rivers face increasing long-term water risk.
Climate change is therefore expected to increase both water scarcity and water volatility, creating new challenges for agriculture, infrastructure and ecosystems.
Report link: https://www.unwater.org/publications/un-world-water-development-report-2025
3. Water security, governance and stability
Water scarcity intersects with wider economic, social and political pressures. In regions where water resources are already limited, environmental stress can exacerbate existing inequalities and governance challenges. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024 – Water for Prosperity and Peace emphasises that water governance and international cooperation are essential for preventing conflict and supporting sustainable development.
The report highlights that:
- Competition for water resources can intensify tensions in regions already facing political instability.
- Cooperative water governance can also support regional stability and economic development.
- Effective water management requires coordination across agriculture, energy, environmental protection and urban planning.
Report link: https://www.unwater.org/publications/un-world-water-development-report-2024
4. Gender and water security
Water access and water governance have important gender dimensions. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by inadequate water and sanitation services. According to UN Womenand UNICEF, women and girls collectively spend hundreds of millions of hours each day collecting water, particularly in rural areas without reliable water infrastructure.
Water insecurity can therefore affect:
- Education – girls may miss school due to water collection responsibilities.
- Health – limited water access affects hygiene and sanitation.
- Economic participation – time spent collecting water reduces opportunities for paid work.
- Safety – travelling long distances for water can expose women and girls to risk.
At the same time, women often play central roles in community water management, household water use and local environmental knowledge.
However, women remain underrepresented in many water governance institutions, utilities and infrastructure planning processes.
Recognising these disparities, the international community is increasingly emphasising the need for gender-responsive water governance and decision-making.
5. The UK context
The United Kingdom is often perceived as a water-abundant country, yet national assessments suggest that water resources are under growing pressure. According to the Environment Agency, England could face a shortfall of around 5 billion litres of water per day by 2050 without significant changes in water management.
Key pressures include:
- population growth in water-stressed regions
- increasing demand for water from households, agriculture and industry
- climate change impacts on rainfall patterns and drought frequency
- pressures on rivers, wetlands and ecosystems.
Climate projections indicate that the UK is likely to experience:
- hotter, drier summers, increasing drought risk
- more intense rainfall events, increasing flood risk
- greater seasonal variability in water availability.
The National Framework for Water Resources outlines the need to improve water efficiency, develop new supply infrastructure and strengthen ecosystem resilience.
Report link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-framework-for-water-resources
6. Questions for UK policymakers
Recent global and national assessments raise several issues that merit further discussion in UK policy debates.
Global water security
- What assessment will the UK Government make of the findings of the UN report Global Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era?
- How is the UK incorporating global water security risks into its climate, development and foreign policy strategies?
- How is the UK supporting gender-responsive water governance and water access in international development and climate programmes?
Climate change and water resilience
- How are UK climate adaptation strategies addressing the increasing risks of drought, flooding and water scarcity identified in national and international assessments?
UK water security
- What steps are being taken to address the projected water supply deficit in England by 2050 identified by the Environment Agency?
- What steps are being taken to respond to the public concerns about polluted water entering our rivers and seas and the failure of regulation by the Environment Agency?
- How is the UK government ensuring an interdepartmental approach to water management, ensuring that communities at risk of flooding are supported, that housing and other developments are not being located in flood plains, and that nature is being harnessed to reduce the risk of flooding going forward?
