Archived press release

NEW WATER SAVING PLANS TOO COSMETIC SAYS FOE

11 October 1996

Plans to meet a new duty on water companies to promote the efficient use of water by their customers [1] have now been submitted to Ofwat. Some of the plans have been leaked to Friends of the Earth and reveal a lack of commitment from companies to water conservation. The plans include:

* An extension of metering, despite the fact that companies are not convinced meters will deliver water conservation [2]

* Educational initiatives without evidence that these will reduce water consumption in the long term [3]

* One-day water audits for top business customers, but charges for full audits [4]

* No plans for: retrofitting low-flush toilets, providing free water butts, reducing water pressure to reduce leakage, full auditing of business customers, free installation of urinal savers and other measures which require serious financial investment [5]

* Thames Water's conservation plan even proposes a new reservoir despite the fact that the company leaks enough water for every household in the region to have 11 showers a day.

Matt Phillips of Friends of the Earth said: "These 'plans' are just a round-up of current initiatives. They don't say how much companies are investing in water conservation, or how much water they intend to save. Bookmarks with water saving tips and charging customers for water auditing are not good enough. Our wetlands are under threat from over-abstraction and climate change. We need substantial investment from companies in water conservation by investing in their customers. Ofwat must ensure these plans are rewritten to include proper targets and investment."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Under the 1995 Environment Act.

[2] Thames Water's plan states: "Uncertainties over the long term effectiveness of metering as a demand management tool coupled with the practical, political and social realities associated with its implementation mean that a demand management strategy built largely around metering would pose an unacceptably high risk." Yet Thames Water still professes an an aim of "further extending metering penetration".

[3] The plans studied include no analysis of how successful educational initiatives are in promoting water use efficiency. Plans include water saving tips on bookmarks, school visits,model drought-resistant gardens and advertising.

[4] Severn Trent plans to offer free one-day audits. However, companies charge their customers for full audits.

[5] Friends of the Earth identified a set of key measures requiring water company investment that would substantially reduce demand for water in Alternatives to the Kielder Transfer Scheme in August 1996.

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