Government releases plans that could result in compulsory water metering

Today plans were released for an independent review into domestic water charging. Results depending, by 2030 water meters could be made compulsory in England’s areas most open to water stress.

Hilary Benn, the environment secretary, spoke of the archaic nature of the current system that charges for water largely based on the value of people’s properties 35 years ago. He spoke of the need for a change in the form of a fairer system.

Benn announced the new plan by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for water in England, otherwise known as ‘Future Water’, which aims at making people realise the value of water more.

The strategy aims to introduce a fairer way of paying for water in addition to new measures and incentives that will help to conserve water. For example plans would ask householders to reconsider their usage of appliances with a high water usage, looking for alternative, eco-friendly methods.

By 2030 the aim is to decrease daily usage per person to 130 litres (ideally 120), in comparison to the estimated level of 150 litres. According to the government this target will be met through a blend of tariffs, metering and technology.

Commitments have also been made to decrease the amount of harmful phosphate chemicals from domestic laundry products, including liquids and washing powder.

Furthermore Benn pointed out how water companies and industrial companies should play a part, improving on the 20% improvements they have already made to reducing leakage over the last 10 years.