Revamp water networks should be first step for drought issue

Every day 3.3 billion litres of water is lost in the UK through leaking pipes. With DEFRA calling an emergency water summit this week, one company say there needs to […]

Every day 3.3 billion litres of water is lost in the UK through leaking pipes. With DEFRA calling an emergency water summit this week, one company say there needs to be a change in the way our water networks are managed.

Adam Kingdon CEO of technology specialist i2O Water said: “This drought should be a wake-up call. Water resources will become even more stretched in the South East in the future. OFWAT should be funding higher spending on leakage even if it means higher water bills.”

The DEFRA summit was called as the UK suffered a second consecutive year of below average rainfall, making the chances of drought this summer high.

Speaking after the summit Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: “It is not just the responsibility of Government, water companies and businesses to act against drought. We are asking for the help of everyone by urging them to use less water and to start now.”

However, unlike gas and electricity, most people do not have a water meter, making it near impossible to measure how much is being used. Instead many of us pay a fixed water rate for unlimited water. Mr Kingdon said this was part of the problem: “It is ridiculous that the UK is one of the few countries without compulsory water metering.”

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