Ofwat calls for ideas on water efficiency

Following a declared drought Ofwat is calling for more innovation on water efficiency, acknowledging that further regulation will not help.

A report by Ofwat - the water regulator - entitled 'Valuing every drop', pinpoints the main aspects of the water industry which are the most inefficient, Utility Week reports. 

They are abstraction licences, regions not trading the utility with each other, leaking pipes and storage areas, as well as usage by customers.

A spokesperson for Ofwat told the news provider: "It makes more sense to find sustainable solutions that tackle the root causes of any problems."

The south-east of England has been declared in drought after a particularly dry winter and water is becoming more of an issue as it appears likely there will be widespread hosepipe bans across the country this summer.

Care International recently found that around half of women in Yorkshire leave the tap running while brushing their teeth, which emphasises the need for a change in the country's attitudes to the important utility.