All about Chalk Streams
Cambridgeshire is ‘seriously water stressed’
Why do chalk streams matter?
Chalk streams and rivers are extremely rare. Conservationists and river experts consider them to be as unique as the Amazonian rainforest or Great Barrier Reef.
In fact, there are only around 200 chalk streams in the world, and over a quarter are right here in East Anglia. These rare habitats, including the Cam, are home to a rich array of native plants and animals, including brown trout, water voles, kingfishers, otters and swans.
To lose them would be to lose a very special English habitat, including the life that flourishes in and around them.
Why are chalk streams under threat?
Your drinking water – essentially all of the water you use at home, from your taps to toilets – is supplied by local aquifers. These are the same groundwater sources that supply our chalk streams and rivers.
The more we all use, the greater the pressure on our aquifers, which in turns places greater pressure on chalk streams. If we don’t take collective action, these beautiful English landscapes could be damaged and even lost forever.
Why is Cambridge ‘water stressed’?
As reported by the Environment Agency in 2021, climate change and modern water usage are combining to make Greater Cambridge ‘seriously water stressed’.
With thriving biotech, R&D and other industries, Cambridgeshire is one of the country’s fastest growing regions. However, it’s also one of the driest. Climate change models predict temperatures hotter than the national average, while Met Office projections show record low rainfall of 1.9mm a day – less than anywhere else in the UK.
With less rain, hotter weather, a growing population and rising modern water usage, our local groundwater sources – which also feed our chalk streams and rivers – are under pressure like never before.
What can I do?
This is the easy part. Make one small change to your everyday water habits and you’ll be a crucial part of our county’s biggest ever water-saving action.
Together, we can save our chalk streams for generations to come.
