Opening address

I welcome the opportunity to open this particular conference, and I should like to congratulate the four sponsoring bodies on having chosen the constructive and forward-looking theme 'The management of national and regional water resources.'

For too long we in Britain have taken our water resources and water supply for granted. We assume that water is something that just happens when we turn on the tap. Sewage disposal is something else taken for granted despite the fact that getting rid of waste products is just as difficult as the provision of water, and I think it is becoming more difficult all the time. Demand for water in Britain is growing rapidly. At present we consume approximately 50 gal/head per day. In 25 or 30 years' time we shall need 100 gal/head per day. Yet our water resources are limited. We have a lot of rain, but it falls mainly in the north and west, whereas the greatest growth of demand is in the south and east. With the exception of Holland and Malta, we have fewer untapped supplies per head of population than any other country in Europe. It follows therefore that we must use and re-use our limited water resources much more efficiently.