Archived press release

Foe calls for action to protect our wetland habitats

22 March 1997

Friends of the Earth is marking the UN World Day for Water on Saturday 22 March by calling on the Government and water companies to take action to reduce the impact that the water industry has on the environment. FOE is calling on the water companies to spend more of their profits on conserving water and is challenging the Government to adopt a six point plan of action to protect our wetland habitats.

Despite having a relatively wet climate, our precious water resources have been poorly managed, and because of the failure to take a long-term approach, the environment is paying the price. Last month the Water Companies Association announced plans to take more water from rivers and build more reservoirs [1], despite the fact that on average each water company loses around 30 per cent of its supply each year through leakages - enough for every household in the UK to have over six and a half showers each. Furthermore:

*Eleven of the 28 water companies increased their leakage of water between 1994-95 and 1995-6 (the most recent figures);

*at least 354 wildlife sites are under threat from over-abstraction of water by water companies and farmers. This includes over 100 rivers including the River Wey (at Alton in Hampshire) and river Kennet (at Axford in Wiltshire) which barely flow at all as a result of water company abstraction.

*water conservation measures could save up to 42 per cent of our water use. Water conservation is also cheaper than building new infrastructure.

Matt Phillips, Water Campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said:

"The poor management of our precious water resources is destroying some of our finest wetland wildlife sites. Rather than planning to exploit even more resources the Water Companies should invest more of their massive profits in using what we do have more effectively. The Government also has a responsibility and should be taking decisive action to protect the British countryside."

Friends of the Earth is calling on the water companies invest more of their profits:

*repairing the leaking pipes which is such a drain on our water supplies;

*investing in household to help us all become more water efficient.

and the Government to:

*carry out a comprehensive review of water abstraction licences to identify all damaging impacts on wildlife by the year 1999;

*give the Environment Agency powers to implement a sustainable water resource strategy by the year 2000;

*instruct Ofwat to set environmental standards of performance for water companies by 1998;

*publish a national action programme for saving water by 1998;

*introduce charges for water by 2000 which ensure that the price abstractors pay for water better reflects the environmental costs of taking water;

*to issue a Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) note for water resources by 1999.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

[1]The water companies claimed (21 February 1997) that the UK would face a crisis of permanent drought unless they were able to boost supplies by building new reservoirs and pipelines.

Some things you didn't know about water

*11 out of 28 water companies increased their leakage of water between 1994-95 and 1995-96 (the most recent figures)
*The company with the worst total leakage record is Thames Water at 38.6%. The best is Sutton and East Surrey at 15.8%
*The average leakage rate is 29.2% this is enough water wasted for every household in the UK to have 6.6 showers a day
*At least 354 wildlife sites are under threat from over-abstraction of water by water companies and farmers this includes 101 rivers
*Some rivers such as the River Wey at Alton in Hampshire and the River Kennet at Axford in Wiltshire barely run at all as a result of water company abstractions
*An ancient legal regime giving water companies 'Licences of Right' means over-abstraction problems can only be relieved by taxpayers paying water companies huge amounts of compensation
*Species at risk include the Bittern, Otter, Salmon and Trout, dragonflies and the UK's largest spider the Fen raft spider
*Climate change is expected to increase demand for water by 10%
*England and Wales have a similar amount of water per person as South Africa
*River transfer schemes allow the spread of species such as the American Signal crayfish which carries a fungal plague deadly to our native White-clawed crayfish
*Water conservation measures could save up to 42 per cent of our water use
*Water conservation measures have been shown to bring between 30% and 50% more jobs than new infrastructure developments such as reservoirs
*Water conservation measures are cheaper than new pipelines - the Tees/Wiske transfer scheme cost Yorkshire Water 40million. Water conservation measures saving the same amount of water would have cost 27million and saved water all year round.
*The average rooftop receives 40,000 litres of water per year as rain. This could be caught in water butts and used in the garden instead of hosepipes
*A bath uses 80 litres of water, a shower 30-35 litres on average
*The average toilet flush in the UK is 9.5litres. Low flush toilets would save 10% of our use of water
*Local authorities do not have to take account of how much water is available before allowing new building developments;
*water companies pay the Environment Agency for the abstraction of water and Yorkshire's water is the cheapest in the UK

10 Things you can do:

*Make sure you don't waste water by leaving taps running unnecessarily;
*Get a water butt and collect rain water for garden use;
*Avoid using a hosepipe: use a watering can or bucket instead;
*Put a plastic bottle full of water in your toilet cistern or use a 'hippo bag';
*Only use your washing machine when really needed and then use a full wash load;
*Buy organic food as you pay for taking nitrates and pesticides out of water through your water bill;
*Take a shower rather than a bath;
*When buying a new appliance like a washing machine, choose one that is water efficient;
*Report any water leaks to your local water company;
*lobby your water company to do more to save water by repairing their leaks and helping householders to be more water efficient.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust