Compulsory water metering is needed sooner rather than later

(25/02/2008)

The Environment Agencyhas welcomed publication of the Government’s Water Strategy for England but said that compulsory water metering is needed sooner rather than later.

Barbara Young, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency said: “Defra's new strategy for England - "Future Water" is welcome and timely as demand on our water resources continues to grow. It rightly highlights the issues of surface water management, flooding and the need for new homes to be fitted with water efficient appliances.

“However while we are glad that the government recognises the need for compulsory water metering in areas where water is scarce, we need to see a far greater level of urgency put on introducing it.

“More houses are being built, our population is increasing and we are all using more water. Climate change will only add to these pressures. Metering is crucial to managing future water supplies and demand and we need it sooner rather than later. It is only a year since as a result of two years of below average rainfall in 2005 and 2006 we experienced one of our worst droughts for 100 years in the south east of England.

“The government has set a timescale which looks to introduce universal metering in water stressed areas before 2030. This is not remotely early enough. We would like to see the majority of households in areas where water is scarce to be metered by 2015 with the remainder in water scarce areas being metered by 2020.

“The government has recognised the need to use water more efficiently in areas where water resources are seriously stressed. Areas like the Thames Gateway need to accommodate 160,000 new homes. Our work ‘Towards Water Neutrality in the Thames Gateway’ shows that 70 per cent of all the homes in the Gateway would need to be on water meters by 2016 if we are to be able to ensure that there will be enough water for people and the environment.

“Metering saves water and for the majority of households is the fairest way to pay – you use less, you pay less. Evidence shows that metering, cuts consumption by at least 10%. More than half of the public water supply comes out of the taps, or goes down the toilets, in our homes - and households charged by volume use less water on average than those that pay on an unmeasured basis.

“It also allows existing supplies to stretch further and, by reducing the amount of treated and hot water being used, it means saving energy and reducing emissions. Adverse impacts of charging by volume on poorer households can be offset by smart tariffs. We are preparing a new Water Resources Strategy for England and Wales, to be published later in 2008, which will look ahead to 2050. "Future Water" will provide a helpful context for this work.”

Related categories:  Legislation and regulations   Water efficiency 

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