The government has launched a public consultation on reducing personal water consumption in order to protect supplies and the environment.
The 12-week public consultation was launched today (19 July) by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and will focus on how water can be saved on a personal level, and how the water industry can take a leading role in supporting customers to use less.
On average, a person in England currently uses 141 litres of water per day, and over the last few years consumption figures have begun to rise.
Research by the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has shown that if this trend continues, England could see significant water deficits by 2050.
The consultation will also examine whether the government should establish a personal water consumption target and possible measures on how to achieve such a non-binding target. The measures could include the labelling of water-using products and the future role of metering.
“We take our supply of clean water for granted and to keep doing that, given the growing population and impact of climate change, we need to challenge ourselves more on how much water we actually need to use,” said environment minister, Therese Coffey. “While water companies must lead the way in reducing leakage, using water efficiently will help ensure we all have enough water for our homes, to produce food, products and services, and to protect our valuable natural environment for the next generation.”
The chief executive of the Environment Agency, Sir James Bevan added: “Balancing the water needed for people and the environment in the face of a warming climate and a growing population will be one of the major challenges of the next 25 years.
“Our tap water comes direct from the ground, and our lakes and rivers where it supports wildlife. It is only by reducing the amount of water we all use that we can reduce pressure on the environment and avoid future water shortages. I’d encourage everyone to take part in the consultation and think about ways you can use less water.”
The consultation closes at midnight on 11 October.