UK

Drinking water is not free in the UK. In the past, water was controlled by the government, but it has since been 'privatised'. This means that your water might be provided by a company based in a different country. Water can be paid for at a flat rate or by a meter which charges you for the exact amount of water you use. Water is stored in reservoirs, which are refilled by rain and rivers. In periods of very hot weather, these start to run very low, and some areas of the country face water restrictions.

Most of the drinking water in the UK is recycled and treated. In London, the water coming out of your tap has been used at least seven times before! When the water is filtered and 'cleaned' some people feel that too many chemicals are added. In the past, it was thought to be a good idea to add fluorine to drinking water,as it helps prevent tooth decay, but nowadays some feel that the long-term harmful effects are too great. Recent reports state that London tap water is now as pure as bottled mineral - and it's much cheaper!

Flooding As a result of global warming, and the resulting change in weather patterns,the numbers of floods have increased. In 2001, large areas of the UK ended up under water, as unusually heavy rain fell and caused many rivers to burst their banks. This has caused people longer terms problems,in that its now harder to obtain insurance against floods and this makes it harder to sell your house. The government now issues flood advice and gives weather warnings so that people are more prepared. In the UK, people rarely die as a result of flooding.