Affinity Water calls for a minister and a national council for water to prevent shortages

Cross-party think-tank, Demos, has developed an eight-point plan to fix what it described as the looming national water crisis. This could see demand outstrip supply within 15 years.

Supported by Affinity Water, Demos researched views from across government, academia, home builders, climate experts, the water industry and wider society. Its recommendations, in Flowing forward: safeguarding the UK’s water system, were:

• resurrect the post of minister for water as a formal political position;

• create a National Water Council, which brings together all relevant parties;

• better training for plumbers and installers to reduce leaks and ensure that water efficient products achieve maximum efficiency;

• compulsory water meters for all households including the removal of pre-installation inspections;

• create a rapid “Greywater Review” to identify the feasibility of using greywater for businesses and recreational usage;

• more ambitious targets for new homes for water efficiency, aiming for 100 litres per person per day in water-stressed areas, and 110 litres in all other areas;

• an all-in-one approach to retrofitting homes so that water efficiency is included alongside energy efficiency; and

• explore the use of rising block tariffs, providing a range of tariffs which determine the price consumers pay based on usage.

Affinity backed the recommendations and has called on political parties to include them in their upcoming election manifestos.

Chief executive at Affinity Water, Keith Haslett, said the company is and must continue to play its part by tackling leakage, investing in technology and encouraging consumer behaviour change such as through its Save Our Streams programme. “But to achieve even better results, we believe there is a need for a more collaborative approach involving government, regulators, and the industry, ensuring we tackle this issue from all sides.” 

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