WATER SERVICES
REGULATION AUTHORITY News Release (PN 16/08) issued by The
Government News Network on 20 June 2008
Water companies
would face targets to help customers save more than 23 million
litres of water a day (Ml/d), under proposals published today by Ofwat.
George Day, Ofwat's Director of Network Regulation, said:
"We have to use water more carefully and cut waste if we are
to continue to enjoy safe, reliable water supplies.
"The new approach to water efficiency targets we are
proposing will be challenging for companies but help to reduce
wasteful use of water. This should mean lower costs, lower
customer bills and good news for the environment."
Ofwat proposes targets to run initially for five years from
2010-2015. Companies will be expected to deliver real savings by
providing household and business customers with information on how
to use water sensibly, and promoting the use of water saving
devices. All companies would have to achieve a minimum saving,
while some would aim to save more as part of their plans to make
sure that supplies are able to meet both current and future demand.
The proposed minimum annual saving of 23.3 Ml/d across England
and Wales represents a 40% increase in the average amount of water
saved by water companies annually over the past three years,
excluding supply pipe repairs and replacements.
The targets would help companies to play their part in achieving
the Government's goal of reducing individual water usage to
130 litres per person per day from its current level of around 150
litres. If the proposed targets remain in place until 2030 we
expect them to contribute at least half of the required savings.
Water efficiency represents part of companies' work to
reduce waste. They will also need to live up to their commitments
to meet their leakage targets.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) is the
economic regulator of water and sewerage companies in England and
Wales. It exercises its powers in a way that it judges will
protect the interests of consumers, promote value and safeguard
future water and sewerage services by allowing efficient companies
to carry out their functions properly, and finance them.
2. Ofwat's proposals are outlined in the paper, 'Future
Water Efficiency Targets: A consultation', which is available
on its website, http://www.ofwat.gov.uk
3. One of the agreed actions of the Government-led Water Saving
Group is to develop water efficiency targets.
4. In August 2007 Ofwat set companies voluntary water efficiency
targets for 2008-09 and 2009-10. These were outlined in the letter
to companies' regulatory directors, RD 15/07. At that time
Ofwat said that it would set refined targets as part of the 2009
price review (PR09).
5. Proposed water efficiency targets for water companies using
property numbers provided in the 2008 June return are set out
below. 1Ml/d = one million litres.
Proposed minimum water efficiency targets, 2010-11 to 2014-15
Company Household Non-household Total Target
properties properties properties Ml/d
(000) (000) (000)
2007-08 2007-08
Anglian 1,804 114 1,918 1.9
Dwr Cymru 1,202 103 1,305 1.3
Northumbrian 1,056 59 1,115 1.1
Severn Trent 3,076 196 3,272 3.3
South West 674 72 747 0.7
Southern 945 61 1,006 1.0
Thames 3,232 216 3,448 3.4
United Utilities 2,783 172 2,955 3.0
Wessex 499 52 551 0.6
Yorkshire 1,921 130 2,051 2.1
Bournemouth & West 177 16 193 0.2
Hampshire
Bristol 448 34 483 0.5
Cambridge 114 10 124 0.1
Dee Valley 108 8 116 0.1
Essex & Suffolk 699 41 740 0.7
Folkestone 67 5 72 0.1
Mid Kent 225 21 246 0.2
Portsmouth 274 20 294 0.3
South East Water 549 45 594 0.6
South Staffs 504 29 533 0.5
Sutton & East Surrey 251 15 266 0.3
Tendring Hundred 66 4 71 0.1
Three Valleys 1,179 63 1,242 1.2
Industry total 21,853 1,490 23,343 23.3
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