Widespread water metering, plans to phase out phosphates from cleaning products and new planning rules to reduce storm water run-off are just a few of the issues tackled in the Government's new water strategy for England. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said there should be "near universal" metering in areas of potential water scarcity by 2030 and outlined plans to force homeowners to apply for planning permission if they wished to pave over their front gardens with non-permeable materials, therefore reducing the risk of surface water flooding.
The strategy will also look at the way water is abstracted by the utility companies, industry and individual businesses and proposes a ban on phosphates in detergents. A similar scheme has already been implemented throughout the EU. Metering reduces domestic water consumption by an average of 10% and would help meet the strategy's target of cutting an individuals' daily consumption of water from 150 litres to 130 litres.
An independent review will look at the different options available for increasing the uptake of metering and will focus on how to rapidly increase the number of properties being metered in a way so low income households do not struggle to pay for water. Mr Benn commented, "The review will assess the effectiveness and fairness of different methods of charging, including metering and tariffs. Our system of charging, based largely on the value of people's homes 35 years ago, is archaic and rife with anomalies. We need a fairer system that offers incentives to conserve water and we need to consider how to protect vulnerable groups, like those on low incomes and the elderly."
