24 July 2008
Water bills could jump considerably if government plans to introduce compulsory water metering are given the go ahead, it has been suggested. According to the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater), households could be up to £200 a year worse off under the proposals. In a report, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said there was a "good case" for introducing water meters in every UK home. Ministers insist that in the future the need to conserve water will be even more pressing as droughts become more frequent. Water meters would encourage households to use less, they claim. But CCWater warns that compulsory metering would hit families hard, particularly those already struggling to meet rising gas and electricity costs. "There is no sufficient government safety net to protect people who cannot afford to pay for their water," said a spokesperson for the consumer body. CCWater says households could save £25 a year on their water bill by reducing their water usage just 10%. Fixing dripping taps, installing water saving devices in toilets and collecting rainwater to use in the garden are all effective ways of conserving water, it claims.