The metering strategy involves metering on change of occupancy from 2015 to 2020 continuing the company’s present programme in order to reach a target of 63% meter penetration by 2019/20.
Following this Sutton and East Surrey water plans to carry out a compulsory metering programme from 2020 to 2030. This will take meter penetration to 86% by 2030 with a plan to meet a target of 90% of homes by 2040.
As part of its Draft Water Resources Management Plan the company will also find “new sources of water” by extending its existing deal with Thames Water to allow for extra water supply and will propose to enlarge its surface reservoir at Bough Beech between Edenbridge and Sevenoaks to challenge any future supply shortfall.
The company will also set out stringent leakage targets and will encourage customers “to use less water”.
Lester Snoden, engineering director at Sutton and East Surrey water, said: “It is crucial that we have a robust and truly resilient plan for ensuring we have enough water to meet all the likely needs of our domestic and business customers long-term. This includes factoring in critical projections for such things as growth in population and properties, the likely impact of climate change and possible reductions in the amount of raw water we are able to take from rivers and the ground in order to protect the environment.”
Sutton and East Surrey water said that the next 25 years will see increased pressures on water availability in its area due to a growth in “population and properties, the impact of climate change and the need to protect the environment.”
Measures set out in the management plan include: retrofitting water efficiency devices into both household and non-household properties; increased leakage reduction and more metering, either selective (change of occupancy) or compulsory.
Further measures include new ground water storage and recovery schemes, increasing the capacity of the treatment works at its surface water reservoir and considering bulk imports of treated water from other companies.