“Delete emails to save water”: the UK government has caused a wave of criticism
14 August 22:37
Amid the worst drought in a decade, the UK government has issued an unexpected recommendation to citizens: delete old emails and photos to help reduce water consumption. This is reported by Tom’s Hardware, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Why is this related to water?
- Data centers, where digital files are stored, use water to cool servers.
- Less data means less load on data centers, which means less water to cool them, government officials explain.
Public reaction
- IT industry experts and environmental activists called the call absurd.
- They believe that the government is shifting responsibility to citizens instead of modernizing infrastructure and regulating large corporations.
- “Deleting family photos will not save the rivers,” experts comment.
The climate crisis
- The UK is experiencing the fourth heat wave of the summer.
- Five regions have been officially recognized as drought zones.
- This is the driest period since 1976, and the National Drought Group has declared the situation to be of national significance
The state of Ukraine’s water resources in 2025 is also a cause for concern due to several key factors:
Lowest water reserves in a decade
- According to Ukrhydroenergo, in 2025, the lowest water reserves in reservoirs over the past 10 years were recorded.
- The reason for this is the low water content of the spring flood, which affected the water level in rivers and reservoirs.
- The company uses resources rationally to accumulate reserves for the heating season.
Environmental challenges
- The State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine reports active algae blooms in water bodies, which pose a threat to the environment and human health.
- Temporary water use restrictions have been imposed in certain regions.
European integration of water policy
- Ukraine continues to implement the EU Water Framework Directive, which provides for a sustainable approach to water management.
- River basin management plans for 9 basins have been approved, covering more than 9,000 surface water bodies and 173 groundwater bodies.
- Modern laboratories for water quality monitoring have been set up.
A new approach: water as an ecosystem service
- At the Water in Ukraine 2025 forum, experts called for considering water not just as a resource, but as an ecosystem service – part of the natural balance that depends on the condition of forests, swamps, and river basins.
- This approach helps to better assess the impact of war, climate change, and human activity on the water system.
