There's nothing inevitable about water shortages | Letters

Readers respond to the news that England could run short of water within 25 years, and offer solutionsYour report on looming water shortages (England could run short of water within 25 years, 19 March) clearly identifies the challenge of meeting demand for water while preserving the natural environment. Of course we need to address leakages and curtail wasteful water use but, fundamentally, water consumption is driven by the number of water consumers.Instead of trying to square the circle of finite supplies and growing demand, why not recognise that achieving a population that our resources can provide for is preferable to drowning more of our natural environment under reservoirs or endangering precious ecosystems through further water abstraction? Continue reading...