Consumption rates could be as ‘high profile as leakage’

A cross-sector approach to resilience planning has been formally launched by Water Resources South East (WRSE) to address severe water shortages in the South East.

The WRSE highlighted the urgency for all stakeholders to get behind water consumption reduction targets, which the group expects will become more stringent. 

Chaired by ex-chief executive of Affinity Water, Simon Cocks, WRSE has unveiled its shift towards greater regional planning – beyond water company boundaries – to ensure there is sufficient water for all.

Cocks said: “This is urgent, serious and complicated – but it is something that we need to get on with. I’m absolutely certain we have the technical capability and experience to do this, but this is now about collaborating really effectively to create a multi-sector plan, and in doing so bringing a positive attitude and shifting our level of ambition to serve the overall best interests of people living and working in our region.”

He explained the WRSE’s joined-up approach would strengthen the South East’s resilience to climatic events and improve the environment. He also stressed the reason for taking action because the area needs to find an extra 910 million litres per day, and possibly up to 2.6 billion litres a day, over the next 60 years.

The group is working with stakeholders from water, energy, agricultural and environmental sectors as well as local planning authorities for a joined up view of needs and usage of water resources.

The WRSE predicts an even tougher stance from Ofwat on per capita consumption (PCC) when the regulator’s final determinations are announced in December. 

In response to Defra’s consultation on setting consumption limits, the WRSE outlined what it believes would have the greatest impact on lowering PCC. These include a UK-wide mandatory water labelling scheme; revised building regulations linked to a mandatory water label; removing the need to link universal metering to water scarcity issues; an increased focus on smart meters; a co-ordinated and multi-sector approach to water efficiency; and a collaborative approach to rainwater harvesting and grey water reuse.

Meyrick Gough, WRSE technical director, said: “The six water companies in the south east region already have the largest demand reduction programmes in the UK, but the expectation is that PCC targets will be set even lower when Ofwat makes its final determinations of their 2020-2025 business plans.”

He said getting customers to lower daily usage could be done through strategic, policy or behavioural changes.

Gough said: “The water companies especially recognise this has the potential to become as high profile an issue as leakage and so supported the need to develop a clear PCC reduction role within the WRSE regional resilience plan.”