Water bills are set to rise in the UK and supplies are under serious stress.
The government has proposed for water meters to be installed in a third of homes across the UK, so householders will be charged for every drop of water they use.
This is an attempt to tackle a looming water shortage, but could see bills double for some homes.
Monday (12 August) Thames Water asked its regulator Ofwat (the economic regulator of the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales) for permission to raise bills by around £29-a-year, to make up for increases in Environment Agency charges, and to cover the cost of preparing the construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
Plumb and Parts Center’s Head of Sustainability Tim Pollard had this to say:
“With the economy the way it is today it’s not good to hear about rising bills, but the recent plans aren’t a surprise.
“In the UK, we’re using water at an unsustainable rate. This is leading to water stress which is a big problem that’s only getting worse.
“Water is one of our most precious resources and we use plenty of it, in fact the Environment Agency estimates the average person in England and Wales uses 150 litres every single day.
“Luckily there are ways to save our supplies and drive down these rising bills. Plumb and Parts Center is proud to be part of the Bathroom Manufacturer’s Association’s water-efficiency labeling scheme, The Water Label.
“The Water Label scheme is similar to the energy-efficiency labels on electrical appliances, and will make it much easier for people to choose water efficient products when designing their bathrooms and kitchens.
“It’s also a big benefit to installers as they can easily and accurately recommend which products are most efficient, and best for the job.
“As an industry we need to work together to make homes as water efficient as possible, and protect the country from water stress and spiraling bills.”
