Consultancy calls for shelved water efficiency plans to be reinstated as Covid hits demand

Water and energy consultancy Skewb has called on the government to reinstate water demand reduction plans shelved because of Covid-19.

Rather than delaying action because of coronavirus, Skewb argued the pandemic – and the resulting increases in domestic water use – has put additional pressure on water resources and household bills, and therefore increased the urgency to act.

The consultancy argued: “With most of the country working from home, combined with a hot summer in 2020, water usage typically increased by a further 20% compared to an already high usage of over 140 litres per person per day. The chief executive of the Environment Agency and a Parliamentary Select Committee have both issued dire warnings of severe problems if we don’t act now. The government however has chosen to delay plans to set a national water efficiency target, introduce a mandatory water label on water using products and increase building regulations for new developments.”

Skewb said mandatory water labelling alone could save households £40 a year on their energy and water bills. Ben Earl, director of sustainability and water efficiency, said: “Over 70% of respondents to a recent government consultation supported a water label on water using products. We are calling on government to do what has been widely called for and make a water label mandatory on all water using products. This and other measures need to take place to ensure that as a nation we have enough water to go round to head off the predicted deficits in just nine years’ time.”