2 April 2009
Homeowners across the south-west of the country should reduce the amount of water they use to prevent shortages in the future, according to the Environment Agency.
The recommendation forms part of the Environment Agency's Water Resource Strategy for England and Wales, intended to protect water resources beyond 2050.
South-west water supplies are expected to come under increasing pressure in the future, which puts pressure on homeowners to reduce their consumption, such as by installing a water meter.
Richard Cresswell, Regional Director of the agency, underlined the importance of cutting down water consumption.
He said: "In the future climate change and population growth may mean that we won't always have enough water to meet the needs of all the people.
"We must take this opportunity to plan for the future and think about how we can all use water more efficiently."
The average person across the south-west of the UK uses between 156 and 183 litres per day.
According to uSwitch.com, households can reduce their water costs by up to £125 a year by installing a water meter.