Reality check: the truth about Britain’s water crisis – and what it means for net zero

Reality check: the truth about Britain’s water crisis – and what it means for net zero

Author: The Spectator August 20, 2026 Duration: 17:01

Britain is in the grip of another hot, dry summer, with hosepipe bans in force and fears growing about the country’s water supply. But are we really running out of water?

Michael Simmons is joined by Reality Check reporter John Power to explain what is actually behind the shortages, whether Britain needs more reservoirs and why nationalising the water companies may not be the answer. They also ask what the drought tells us about the future of net zero – and how Britain should adapt to a changing climate.

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