Saturday 10 Dec 2011 @ 11:40
WiredGov Newswire (news from other organisations)
WiredGov Newswire (news from other organisations)
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Leaving no room for drought: WWF’s Water White Paper reaction
WWF recently welcomes the Water White Paper and the vision it sets out for a sustainable water industry that can deliver affordable water for people and protect our precious rivers and wildlife. With climate change posing a very real threat, WWF believes the move by Government to resolve future water-management issues, and introduce stronger protection for the environment when water is scarce, is vitally important. However, in the light of the current drought situation in Britain and the existing legacy of taking too much water from many of our rivers, we would urge the Government to ensure that these measures are now implemented as a matter of urgency.
Rose Timlett, Freshwater Policy Officer at WWF-UK, said:
"It's great to see that the Government is taking a fresh and innovative approach to protecting our rivers and wildlife in its Water White Paper. With the current winter drought situation affecting many parts of the country, the challenge now is to urgently make these proposals a reality, so that our rivers can start to recover as quickly as possible."
"One key area that has still needs to be addressed is how to support the comprehensive roll out of water meters. Combined with social tariffs and water efficiency measures this is the cheapest and fairest way for people to reduce their water usage, and the Government needs to set out more detail on this going forwards."
Unusually dry weather conditions and low water levels have resulted in a winter drought this year and pressures on the UK water system are set to rise further thanks to the impacts of climate change and population growth.
• Over the past year, large parts of the country have received only 70 per cent of their average rainfall.
• Some reservoirs are reaching their lowest levels and 75 per cent of rivers are “low” with the worst cases, such as the Kennet, drying up completely.
• This is a direct result of low rainfall combined with outdated water licences issued 40 years ago that bear no relation to environmental limits.
"The acute effects of drought are becoming apparent," said Rose Timlett. "Fish are dying in drying stretches, farmers are unable to get the water they need and the impacts of chronically low water levels are causing changes in invertebrate populations that will, over time, knock on to the whole ecosystem."
"There is also a huge job to do to help people at home understand where their water comes from, to recognise the impacts of water waste and ultimately, to learn useful ways to reduce their individual consumption."
WWF welcomes the inclusion of a new incentive mechanism to encourage water companies to better value the water they abstract. But the Government now needs to consider the inclusion of incentives for people, to encourage a real sense of value for the water we all use. WWF is calling for a clear strategy to roll out widespread metering, in line with the Government’s own evidence, which shows that such a strategy would be better for the environment and for people’s pockets.
Editor's notes
WWF is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. We're working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tacking climate change and changing the way we live.
In 2011, WWF's 50th anniversary year, we are celebrating what we have achieved so far together, and are positive about tackling the challenges of the future. Find out more about our work, past and present at www.wwf.org.uk
For further information, please contact:
Kellie Rollings, tel: 01483 412340, email: krollings@wwf.org.uk
"It's great to see that the Government is taking a fresh and innovative approach to protecting our rivers and wildlife in its Water White Paper. With the current winter drought situation affecting many parts of the country, the challenge now is to urgently make these proposals a reality, so that our rivers can start to recover as quickly as possible."
"One key area that has still needs to be addressed is how to support the comprehensive roll out of water meters. Combined with social tariffs and water efficiency measures this is the cheapest and fairest way for people to reduce their water usage, and the Government needs to set out more detail on this going forwards."
Unusually dry weather conditions and low water levels have resulted in a winter drought this year and pressures on the UK water system are set to rise further thanks to the impacts of climate change and population growth.
• Over the past year, large parts of the country have received only 70 per cent of their average rainfall.
• Some reservoirs are reaching their lowest levels and 75 per cent of rivers are “low” with the worst cases, such as the Kennet, drying up completely.
• This is a direct result of low rainfall combined with outdated water licences issued 40 years ago that bear no relation to environmental limits.
"The acute effects of drought are becoming apparent," said Rose Timlett. "Fish are dying in drying stretches, farmers are unable to get the water they need and the impacts of chronically low water levels are causing changes in invertebrate populations that will, over time, knock on to the whole ecosystem."
"There is also a huge job to do to help people at home understand where their water comes from, to recognise the impacts of water waste and ultimately, to learn useful ways to reduce their individual consumption."
WWF welcomes the inclusion of a new incentive mechanism to encourage water companies to better value the water they abstract. But the Government now needs to consider the inclusion of incentives for people, to encourage a real sense of value for the water we all use. WWF is calling for a clear strategy to roll out widespread metering, in line with the Government’s own evidence, which shows that such a strategy would be better for the environment and for people’s pockets.
Editor's notes
WWF is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. We're working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tacking climate change and changing the way we live.
In 2011, WWF's 50th anniversary year, we are celebrating what we have achieved so far together, and are positive about tackling the challenges of the future. Find out more about our work, past and present at www.wwf.org.uk
For further information, please contact:
Kellie Rollings, tel: 01483 412340, email: krollings@wwf.org.uk
