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What is Government doing?

Water Saving Group

The Water Saving Group is a ministerially-led group which brings together key water industry stakeholders to promote the efficient use of water in households. The Group work will contribute to the long term sustainability of the water supply. The first meeting of this group took place in October 2005 at which members agreed its action plan.

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Water strategy - Future water

The Government has launched its new water strategy for England, Future Water. The strategy sets out a framework for water management in England. This includes: sustainable delivery of secure water supplies , an improved and protected water environment, fair, affordable and cost-reflective water charges, reduced water sector greenhouse gas emissions and more sustainable and effective management of surface water

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Leakage

Following the Water Summit in 1997, the Water Services Regulation Authority (publicly known as Ofwat) has set water companies targets to reduce leakage to its economic level. This is the level at which it costs more to reduce leakage further than to produce that water from an alternative source. This approach has delivered significant reductions in leakage since its peak in 1995. Annual reports on progress with leakage reduction, security of supply and activities to promote the efficient use of water by the water industry are available on the Ofwat website.

The Tripartite Leakage Study was published in March 2003. It was commissioned by Ofwat, the Environment Agency and Defra to establish good practice in leakage management and develop suitable approaches to determine the economic level of leakage.

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Government’s Housing Green Paper

The Paper sets out plans for three million new homes by 2020. These include plans for greener homes, with high environmental standards and flagship developments leading the way. Water Efficiency in New Buildings, a joint Defra and CLG policy statement, responds to the key issues raised in responses to the Water Efficiency in New Buildingsconsultation and sets how Government proposes to bring forward regulations to implement minimum standards of water efficiency for new buildings and key fittings.

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Code for Sustainable Homes

Communities and Local Government launched the Code for Sustainable Homes on 13 December 2006, which includes standards for water efficiency. The code sets a range of standards above the current statutory baseline. From April 2007 all new homes receiving Government funding will be required to meet Level 3 of the Code.

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Water efficiency in new buildings

Defra and CLG jointly consulted on options for regulating for minimum standards of water efficiency in new homes and commercial buildings. The consultation was launched on 14 December 2006 as part of the Government's wider 'green package' announcement including the Code for Sustainable Homes, a draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS) on climate change and a consultation document signalling Government's intention to require zero carbon homes by 2020, and closed on 9 March 2007.

A report has now been published that gives a statistical summary of who responded to the consultation, responses to the questions asked and summaries of detailed comments made, identifying key themes and issues.

The proposals were for a whole building performance standards with target levels of between 120 and 135 litres per person per day, subject to consultation. An alternative approach would be to set performance standards for individual fittings.

For commercial buildings the proposals are similar, and would make good practice the norm. The proposals will not apply to the process uses of water or to residential institutions e.g. hospitals.

The proposals only cover new buildings at the moment - the Government intends that the scope for similar measures be examined as part of the Existing Buildings Review, which will make recommendations to Ministers during the course of 2007.

Government are also considering ways of regulating high water use fittings e.g. wet rooms, spa baths etc, such as amending the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 to make them notifiable to the local water company. This would enable them to exercise discretionary powers to install a water meter and hence reflect the true cost of the water being used.

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Market Transformation Programme

This programme encourages products which do less harm to the environment, using less energy, water and other resources. It supports a structured, public domain sector review process, conducted in partnership with business, consumers, experts and other bodies. The Internet is used to encourage public awareness and scrutiny of current policy thinking. The water section includes a range of policy briefs and scenarios on future water use by key domestic products.

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National Water Conservation Group

This is a voluntary group, made up of individual organisations committed to promoting the efficient use of water. Its membership includes water suppliers, regulators, manufacturers, academics, technical experts and non-Governmental organisations.

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Page last modified: 10 September 2007
Page published: 4 September 2003

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs