01/03/2006 - The Environment
Agency today welcomed the decision by the
Secretary of State to allow Folkestone and
Dover Water to introduce compulsory metering
for its customers, but said more meters
should be installed across England and Wales
to help cut water use and protect the environment.
David King, Director of Water Management
at the Environment Agency, said householders
needed incentives to save water, and compulsory
metering in areas where there were water
shortages would help do this.
"Compulsory metering is particularly
important in south east England where demands
are high and the scope for new resources
is limited.
"Metering saves between 5% and 15%
on total water use. Water companies that
actively encourage water savings get better
results.
"We believe there should be more meters
across England and Wales, and we've told
water companies in the south east that they
need to make rapid progress with metering.
"We would like to see up to 75% of
households across England and Wales to have
meters by 2025, with the majority of meters
in place within the next 10 years. But water
companies need to ensure that vulnerable
households, such as low-income groups, are
protected.
"We can not expect our environment
to provide a constantly increasing supply
of water.
"Metering is the fairest way to pay
for water. And we all need to do our bit
to make the water we use go further for
the long term protection of the environment
and our water supplies."
Dr King said meters this summer would not
resolve the impact of the last 15 months
of drought in the south east but would help
Folkestone and Dover make best use of the
water available.
In most of Europe, households pay for the
amount of water used, and this is generally
seen as fair.
The announcement comes a week after the
Environment Agency warned that the south
east could face the worst drought in 100
years.
