Last week there were reports that parts of north-east England could run dry by 2035. London’s demand for water already outstrips supply with several areas in the South East – which supply the UK capital – classed as “seriously water-stressed”. Experts blame a decrease in rainfall thanks to climate change and a growing population for the UK drying up. The issue is yet to pick up the same activist traction as single-use plastics, for example, but there can be no doubt: Our water resources are at risk if we don’t take action.
Katie Alcott knows it. The founder of Bristol social enterprise FRANK Water is using the glass-bottled spring variety to help hundreds of thousands of people in India and Nepal.
If you live around Bath or Bristol you might have received some of their water in a local cafe. If you don’t, you almost definitely kept hydrated thanks to the FRANK refill service which was ubiquitous at music festivals this summer.
Alcott grew up on a farm in the middle of Herefordshire and had never really been abroad. That’s why aged 19, she went to India where she picked up a role teaching in Kashmir.
One of the first things she noticed was how few girls were in the school. She learned that water was key to this – whether because water had made them or a family member sick, or if they had to go such a long distance to collect water that it was too late to go to school by the time they got back.
It might be September but summer isn't over just yet!☀️We're still on the lookout for some amazing volunteers to help bring our FRANK Water festival #refill🚰 service to @TheLongRoadFest this weekend. Go to https://t.co/jQp3LvBZHK or email volunteers@frankwater.com for more info pic.twitter.com/nw0fWOzNW4
— Frank Water (@frankwater) September 2, 2019