More Rain but Less Water in Our Rivers — How Can That Possibly Happen?
More Rain but Less Water in Our Rivers — How Can That Possibly Happen? “If it’s raining more, surely our rivers should contain more water. The reality is much more complicated.” You look out of the window at another wet afternoon. Water pours from the gutters, puddles spread across the road and the garden looks thoroughly soaked. Then you read about low river flows, pressure on water supplies or the need to conserve water. How can both things be true? The answer begins with an important distinction: rainfall measures water arriving in a landscape. River flow measures water moving out through a particular channel. Between those two events, water can take many different routes. Some evaporates. Some is used by plants. Some replenishes dry soil. Some reaches underground stores. Some rushes through drains. Some is taken for homes, agriculture and industry. Understanding those journeys explains why a wet-looking landscape does not necessarily have a secure water supply—and why the wa...
