| As utility bills climb to unseen levels it is unsurprising | | | | government's strategy over the next twenty years. |
| that many people are starting to install water meters | | | | With so many new houses being built it will not be |
| to their homes. This is because the old system of | | | | long before a major water shortage occurs across |
| having a categorised water bill has become | | | | Britain nationwide. It was argued that this would be a |
| increasingly more expensive as water companies try | | | | result of not only wastefulness of homeowners but |
| to increase their revenue. As such, water meters are | | | | also a result of climate change and economic growth. |
| a way to not only reduce the prices of your bill but | | | | The problem with an all encompassing water supply |
| to also use less water in your home. | | | | strategy is that regions are different and have |
| The move towards water meters is not just a result | | | | different characteristics. As such, for any policies to |
| of a homeowner's pursuit of cheaper bills. The | | | | be successful it is important to take a local approach |
| government in the last twelve months has made it | | | | taking into account factors that relate to that area |
| law that all new builds must be built with water | | | | directly. That said it is still possible to draw general |
| meters as standard. These new regulations are | | | | policies that can be applied across the country. By |
| supposed to ensure that those buying new homes | | | | 2030 the government wants average daily water |
| have a greater respect for the environmental effects | | | | usage to be reduced from 150 to 120 litres. Part of |
| of being wasteful with water, as well the financial | | | | this reduction is to introduce water meters into |
| costs of wasting this precious resource. | | | | homes so people are conscious of the water they |
| It is not just new builds where the government is | | | | are using. |
| trying to introduce water meters in a uniform | | | | Many homeowners however are not happy with the |
| manner. This battle to conserve water is being | | | | introduction of water meters wholesale. While those |
| fought in the cause of water conservation. With | | | | who live alone or in small families will benefit, it is |
| droughts seemingly becoming a regular, if not annual | | | | those houses that have many residents that will feel |
| occurrence this move by the government, in | | | | the financial pinch of the usage of water meters. |
| conjunction with the amenities is unsurprising. These | | | | Thankfully government ministers are also researching |
| environmental policies were only a short time ago | | | | the different charging policies to create a fair pricing |
| being championed by the environment minister. | | | | structure that will suit all. One thing is agreed, that |
| In a statement he professed a desire to increase | | | | the existing pricing methods are not only archaic, but |
| water conservation in drought prone areas through a | | | | wholly unrepresentative. The hope of the research is |
| variety of measures. Not only were meters at the | | | | to produce a pricing system that will actively |
| heart of this conservation effort but points also | | | | encourage people to conserve water. |
| raised in the statement included the introduction of | | | | There is little doubt that water meters will become a |
| more porous paving slabs in gardens to aid drainage | | | | large part of the water charging and measuring |
| as well as attempting to reduce the use of | | | | system in the UK. This can not only be seen as a |
| phosphates in washing powder to further reduce | | | | good thing for homeowners' wallets but also for the |
| environmental harm. | | | | environment that will benefit from the reduced |
| Water meters for all homes are key to the | | | | amounts of water being used and processed. |