The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee has published its report into the Government’s plans for conserving water.
Commenting on the report, Deputy Chair of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) water panel, Phill Mills, said:
“Further debate on the issue of water metering is welcome and much needed. If we are to tackle the UK’s water security we need prompt, decisive action and universal metering has to form part of the solution. Metering requires a tariff structure that reflects the difference between essential and discretionary water use and must include social tariffs which support those who are less able to pay their bills.
“But it’s not just about managing demand for water. Supply solutions such as increased interconnection between water companies must also form part of the solution.”
The EFRA committee has urged MPs to set "clear and ambitious targets" for increasing the use of water meters and cutting domestic water use.
These recommendations comes less than a month after ICE launched its State of the Nation: Water report calling for:
- The creation of a ‘UK Water Security Taskforce’ to deliver an integrated roadmap to water security by spring 2014
- The development of new water storage facilities across the country
- The removal of regulatory barriers that discourage water sharing between neighbouring companies and collaborative investment in new infrastructure.