Water Conservation and Supply (Hansard, 20 February 1997)

§ Mr. Gummer

The Government have today published their response to the conclusions and recommendations of the Environment Committee's first report on water conservation and supply. We welcome the report, which676W broadly mirrors the views expressed in our own paper "Water Resources and Supply: Agenda for Action" which we published last October. In that, we set out a framework of policy and strategy to ensure that the water we need in the longer term is provided effectively, efficiently, and in an environmentally sustainable way.

The Government agree with the Committee that leakage reduction must be a top priority for the water companies in relation to water conservation, and notes a recent report from the Director General of Water Services that water companies' revised targets—which he may enforce—aim to reduce losses from their pipes in aggregate to around 15 per cent. of distribution input by the turn of the century. Moreover, the Government consider that it is sensible for water companies to offer their customers free or significantly discounted leakage detection and repair services for supply pipes, particularly where the supply system is stressed.

In 1996, the Government placed water companies under the statutory duty to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. The Director General of Water Services has reviewed companies' draft plans for doing this and is seeking improvements in some cases. As the Government pointed out in "Water Resources and Supply: Agenda for Action," and as the Committee states in its report, it is important for all organisations which are in a position to influence water usage by their employees or by the greater public to set an example, and for water consumers to be responsive.

In promoting water conservation, the Government will be bringing forward in 1998 new regulations to replace the existing water byelaws as a means of preventing wasteful use and undue consumption of water. Through their environmental technology best practice programme, the Government have already provided advice to industry and commerce on reducing water use and will be continuing their initiatives in this field. The Government provide advice to the agricultural sector on storage and efficient use of water, supported by research and development.

The Government share the Committee's concern about the impact of climate change on water resources and demand for water. The work of the Government's climate change impacts review group has focused attention on this issue, and has been made possible in large measure by continuing Government-funded research into climate prediction. The Government are encouraging water companies and the Environment Agency in taking full account of the implications of climate change scenarios for their duties. The Government note the private sector ability of the water companies, under the economic regulation of the Director General of Water Services, to put in place measures to strengthen supplies by making rapid improvements to the existing water supply system, and the investment of more than £400 million for that purpose since 1995.

Our response emphasises the role of water companies, their regulators, the wider water industry and water consumers in contributing to the sustainable management of water resources through water conservation. With the continuing dry weather over much of England and Wales, these issues must remain at the forefront of our attentions. The Government have been monitoring the water resources position since the onset of this dry period in the 677W spring of 1995. We have commissioned the Environment Agency to produce in March a report on the prospects for water supplies, based on the position at the end of February as the likely winter recharge period draws to a close, and on the actions water companies have in hand to fulfil their duty to maintain supplies.