While households across the UK are still recovering from the floods of last summer it seems unbelievable that almost 50% of all homes in England and Wales are still located in areas where water supply is a problem.

Water companies are finding it difficult to meet the increasing demand, particularly in the south of Engand. After the very wet summers of 2007 and 2008 many householders will have probably forgotten the low rainfall and drought in 2006, or more importantly how dry winters have adversely affected water reservoirs.

Water has historically been a low cost commodity in the UK. We take five minute power showers (using 100 litres); we soak in a full bath (100 litres) and we run washing machines half full (70 to 120 litres). We use a power washer to ensure a moss free drive and leave the garden irrigation system on for hours (1000 litres per hour) in search of a perfect lawn. We dont consider where water comes from, or how valuable it is, yet commentators say that water – and especially our natural resource – rainwater, is now the new oil.