Summary
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee
criticise the Government for a “lacklustre response” to
'Water Management Report (HL 191-I)' published
in June 2006.
This ‘follow-up’ Report states that the Government is
not engaging sufficiently with the Committee’s recommendations, which
included measures to deal with high levels of unpaid water bills and ways of
addressing water affordability for vulnerable groups and those in financial
need.
Ofwat (the water watch-dog) is also criticised by the Committee for
their apparent indifference to innovation in the water industry, having
rejected the Committee’s recommendation that more funds should be earmarked
for research and development. See
'Ofwat -
Meeting the Demand for Water' (HC 150) for more information on the
performance of Ofwat's water efficiency projects.
The Government’s
willingness to consult on the issue of compulsory metering in areas of
“serious water stress” is, however, commended, as is Ofwat’s agreement to
review ‘economic levels of leakage’. Water UK, the water industry’s
representative organisation, is also commended for its enthusiasm regarding
grey-water recycling and increased levels of metering.
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How does it
affect me?
This affects all consumers - it examines ways of dealing
with water supply management in the future, with proposed solutions including
increased implementation of water metering schemes and ecological innovations
such as grey-water recycling.
The Department for the Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is committed to
a
public consultation on the issue of water metering.
See the offical
Department website for a full list of
DEFRA public consultations.
