New measures to save water supplies in Somerset

Wessex Water is one of seven additional areas which have been designated in 'serious water stress' - and must consider tougher water-saving measures.

The move means measures such as mandatory labelling on household appliances to help people to make informed choices about how they can save water and encourage more water efficient products and water companies being asked to develop consistent approach to tackling leaks are to be implemented.

The measures are part of plans to help households across England use water more efficiently, part of an ambitious agenda to build back greener from the pandemic, according to Environment Minister and Taunton Deane MP, Rebecca Pow.

They are part of the Government's 25-Year Environment Plan to achieve clean and plentiful water. They are also key to the Government’s 2050 net zero target by reducing energy consumption in homes as heating water accounts for approximately 17% of an average household’s energy use.

Ms Pow said: “We often take our supply of clean and plentiful water for granted. We must all work harder to tackle the pressures on our water resources by understanding and challenging ourselves on how much water we need to use in our daily lives.

“While I have been clear that water companies must up their game and take urgent action in reducing leakage, this new package of measures will help us all to use less water.

“We’re known for our wet weather in this country, but there’s much to do to ensure we have a resilient water supply now and for future generations.”

Environment Agency water company account manager for the South West, Kevin Ward, said: “Water meters help water companies measure customer demand and experience shows that customers with a water meter installed are more likely to reduce their water use. 

"In the Wessex Water area around 67% of customers are already currently metered. 

"The ability to meter those extra customers should therefore help to reduce demand and save water, which in turn will help to reduce the amount of water taken from the environment – this is particularly important where water abstractions come from vulnerable chalk streams.

“In the Bournemouth Water area, managed by South West Water, around 72% of customers are already currently metered. Again, metering those extra customers should therefore help to reduce demand and save water, helping to reduce the amount of water taken from the environment."

The areas in 'serious water stress' - Severn Trent Water, South Staffordshire Water, Wessex Water, Portsmouth Water, Cambridge Water, the Bournemouth area of South West Water, and the Isles of Scilly - must now publish a water resources management plan (WRMP) that considers all options to manage demand more effectively – including metering and greater leakage reduction.

Each company’s plan will be subject to public consultation in 2022 before the Environment Secretary decides whether a company should be allowed to publish and implement its final plan.

Environment Agency chair, Emma Howard Boyd, said: “Fresh water is the world’s most precious commodity and everyone needs to wake up to the fact that there is less of it to go around.

"If we continue to operate as usual, by 2050 the amount of water available in England could be reduced by 10 to 15 per cent, some rivers could have between 50 and 80 percent less water during the summer and we will not be able to meet the demands of people, industry and agriculture.

“Parts of England are over-abstracted and we are already making hard choices. The designation of seven additional water company areas as being in serious water stress alongside the other proposals announced today are important steps to securing long-term resilient water supplies.”