26.08.2026
From drought-stricken farmland in Bangladesh to shrinking freshwater reserves in Asia and growing concerns about water quality in North America, signs of growing pressure on the world's water resources are becoming harder to ignore.
Climate change is making droughts longer and more severe in some regions. Floods are damaging water infrastructure in others. Conflict, population growth and rising industrial demand are placing further strain on supplies. Governments and businesses around the world are investing billions in the infrastructure needed to power artificial intelligence, increasing demand for resources such as energy, land and water.
The UK is not immune to these pressures. Prolonged dry spells have become more common, following a third heatwave this summer, the longest period without rainfall in the south-east for 30 years and hosepipe bans in parts of England.
Yet in Britain, where clean water arrives with the turn of a tap, most people rarely think about it at all.
This disconnect is revealed in new research commissioned by GARDENA UK, Europe’s number one watering and hand tools gardening brand. The findings suggest that while pressure on water resources is growing across the globe, many Britons remain unaware of the scale of the issues affecting children and families globally, and just how close to home these challenges could become.
We worry about inflation, energy bills and housing costs. But the resource underpinning every meal, every shower, every hospital and every farm remain largely invisible until it runs short.
This lack of awareness extends to personal consumption too.
The findings suggest many people have little sense of how much water underpins everyday life. From cooking and cleaning to washing clothes and showering, water is so readily available that it has become almost invisible.
According to UK Government figures, the average person in Britain uses 136.5 litres of water every day. Yet only six per cent of respondents correctly identified average daily usage. Nearly two-thirds underestimated how much water they consume, while one in four admitted they had no idea at all.
Overall, 94 per cent either overestimated, underestimated or could not estimate their daily water consumption.
The reality
Globally, the picture looks very different. Around one in four people worldwide - 2.1 billion people - still lack access to safely managed drinking water. Safe water that is available at home, when needed, remains out of reach for vast numbers of families around the world.
For many, access to water is not a matter of turning on a tap. It can involve walking long distances, waiting in queues and carrying heavy containers home every day. Women and girls bear much of that burden. UNICEF estimates they spend around 200 million hours every day collecting water.
The absence of access to safe water determines how far children must walk, whether they attend school, and whether families can stay healthy. Many Brits underestimate how widespread water insecurity has become.
Almost half of those surveyed believed that lack of access to drinking water affects fewer than one in five people globally. More than 70 per cent identified Africa as the region most affected by water scarcity - while Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the regions facing the greatest challenges, water stress is no longer confined to one continent.
The cause
Globally, pressure on water systems is increasing, and the reasons are complex.
Climate change is altering rainfall patterns, drying rivers and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. Floods can destroy water infrastructure, while prolonged droughts place communities, agriculture and ecosystems under increasing strain. Population growth and urbanisation are driving demand ever higher, while industry continues to compete for finite resources.
Britain is not facing the same challenges as some of the world's most water-stressed regions. However, experts have warned that climate change, population growth and rising demand will place increasing pressure on domestic water supplies in the decades ahead.
The good news
Optimistically, the public appears willing to act.
Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of respondents said they would be willing to reduce their water consumption if they knew how, and some of the most effective actions are often the simplest.
Maha Elkharbotly, President of GARDENA, said: "Water is one of our most precious resources, yet it's clear that too few of us stop to consider how much we use, and where it comes from. However, it is encouraging that so many are willing to take positive steps in the right direction.
"Small changes made by millions of people can have a meaningful impact. By becoming more conscious of how we use water today, we can help ensure this vital resource is available for future generations.
“The study suggests fewer than half of Britons with a garden currently collect rainwater, for example. This is untapped potential for simple water-saving habits at home - collected and stored rainwater can be used for a wide range of gardening tasks, reducing demand on treated drinking water while supporting healthy, resilient gardens.”
Five easy ways to use less water
- Keep showers under five minutes.
- Fix dripping taps and leaking toilets quickly.
- Only run washing machines and dishwashers when full.
- Collect rainwater for the garden and water plants in the early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation.
- Collect excess tap water to use for household tasks like watering houseplants.
This survey was commissioned by GARDENA UK in support of UNICEF's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes, which help provide safe water, sanitation facilities and hygiene education to vulnerable communities in over 100 countries.
UNICEF’s programmes have, for example, improved water, sanitation and hygiene services in healthcare facilities across Mozambique, expanded sustainable access to clean water and sanitation in rural communities in Nepal, supported sanitation improvements in Madagascar, strengthened safe water handling and hygiene practices in Guatemala, and improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for thousands of schoolchildren in Cambodia.
In 2024, UNICEF’s initiatives meant that a total of 18 million people gained access to basic sanitation services, 33.3 million to safe water, and 21 million to basic hygiene services.
Evariste Kouassi Komlan, Director of WASH, UNICEF, said: “Today, the world is confronting multiple, overlapping crises – climate shocks, rapid urbanization, conflict, economic strain, and widening inequalities. Each of these crises exposes the same vulnerability: communities without resilient WASH systems are hit the hardest and recover last.
“WASH is foundational. It underpins health, education, dignity, climate resilience, and equity. When these systems fail, children’s futures narrow. When they succeed, possibility expands. This is true across the globe.
“We work with communities around the world to help make that a reality, but the scale of the challenge remains enormous.”
If you’d like to pledge support to UNICEF’s critical work, visit the UNICEF website.
To find out more on how to make water go further in your garden, visit the GARDENA UK website.
DISCLAIMER: UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service.