Supporters of Affinity Water’s efficiency campaign have called for a labelling scheme to encourage gardeners to choose plants that require less water.
The #WhyNotWater campaign has received the backing of The Beth Chatto Gardens in Essex, which specialises in drought-resistant plants, to add plant labelling to the campaign’s agenda.
The labels will join the campaign’s existing four Asks in the #WhyNotWater agenda.
Similar to proposed efficiency labels for white goods, the plant labels would inform consumers how much water a plant requires and give it a drought-resistant rating.
Raising awareness of water efficiency is a key campaign from Utility Week’s election manifesto launched at the end of 2019. Water resource managers from Thames and Southern called for a mandatory water labelling scheme for household products and said public attitude towards water needs a huge shift to change habits.
Meanwhile Yorkshire Water told Utility Week its customer engagement had highlighted links between personal pride and water usage such as keeping a garden watered or a car washed.
The #WhyNotWater campaign demands mandatory efficiency labelling on all goods; the rights for tenants to request that their landlords install water saving measures to make homes more efficient; that fixtures and fittings meet standard requirements through mandatory certification; and include the water usage target of 110 litres per person per day in severely water stressed areas.
The Beth Chatto Gardens called for labels on plants to be added to the group’s aims to encourage gardeners to grow plants that do not need frequent watering.
Climate change and population growth have placed additional stresses on water resources particularly in the south.
Despite a wet autumn and winter, Affinity said its catchment in the southeast faces continued long-term water shortages. Affinity’s director of corporate affairs Jake Rigg said: “It makes sense to ensure that the choices you make about what to plant in your garden are informed choices.”
David Ward, garden and nursery director, said he “absolutely supports” the four Affinity #WhyNotWater Asks and wants to add a fifth aim of drought ratings on plants. The garden was planted more than 30 years ago and is maintained on Chatto’s principle of finding the “right plants for the right place”.