Seven English regions could face severe water stress by 2030 - spreading to almost the entire south and midlands by 2040, new analysis has shown. Based on data from water companies and the Environment Agency, research by home improvement company Kingfisher suggests that a total of 12 out of 17 English regions could face severe water stress in the next two decades if action is not taken. Water stress is when demand exceeds available supply. No region is currently facing water stress, but a warming climate is expected to bring longer and warmer spells during the summer, putting further pressure on the UK's water resources. Households use an average of 144 liters per day and the government has set a target to reduce this to 122 liters by 2038 and 110 liters by 2050. The government said in its Water Plan that installing taps, using water more wisely and efficiently, as well as quickly fixing leaks, turning off the tap when brushing teeth and installing smart meters will help reduce demand. He also wants water companies to reduce leaks in their pipes; in this way approximately 20 % of public water pipes will be lost. Kingfisher, which teamed up with economic consultants Cebr for the analysis, said water consumption has increased by three liters per person per day over the past five years. Thierry Garnier, CEO of Kingfisher, said: “We are experiencing more extreme weather across Europe, leading to increasing water scarcity in many regions. "As the impact of climate change becomes more apparent, measures such as hose pipe bans will become much more common, with increasingly stringent measures needed to reduce demand." A separate survey of 3,000 UK adults, commissioned by Kingfisher, found that people tend to underestimate water consumption; about 66 %s said they were likely to use less than 140 liters per day, while 29 %s felt unable to estimate. (itvNEWS)