UK Environment Agency calls for “near universal” water metering

clipped from www.energyefficiencynews.com The UK’s Environment Agency is calling for “near universal” water metering for homes and businesses, as well as other measures, to help reduce usage or face severe shortages in future. The Agency’s Water Resources Strategy for England and Wales says climate change and population growth are to blame for dwindling resources. Although climate change is likely to lead to more frequent heavy downpours, it is also likely to reduce the amount of water available in rivers by 10-15% overall – and by as much as 80% during summer months. Adding this to estimates of increasing water demand – which could go up by 5% by 2020 – as a result of population growth in England and Wales and you have a recipe for water shortages. On average, the UK population uses 148 litres of water per day – but 25 million live in areas where there is so much pressure on resources that there is less water available per person than in Spain or Morocco. Just having a water meter typically reduces consumption by 10-15%.