Water

With population growth, climate change causing drier summers and autumns and a huge influx of tourists visiting Dorset in the summer increasing the population by more than 25% our water supplies will be put under extra pressure and eventually begin to decline. The increasing need for water may cause low water levels in rivers, damaging the habitats and ecosystems. Water supply, use and storage needs to improve within the county so we are better able to cope with the changing patterns in population growth, climate change and tourism. One aim of the water authorities is to develop greater storage capacity. Wessex Water has agreed to follow a greenhouse gas reduction strategy of 60% between 1997-2050. They also state that adaption of water resources is needed in balancing supply and demand and mitigating the effects of flooding.