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Water conservation: Water Saving Group (WSG)

Established in October 2005, the Water Saving Group brings together key water industry organisations in order to combine their skills and experience and promote the efficient use of water in households in England. 

The first Government led Group of its kind, it seeks to identify ways of raising awareness about water efficiency, as well as identifying collaborative work to improve the evidence base and contribute to demand management in the long term.  The overarching goal of the Group is to reduce the current level of per capita consumption in households.    

The problem

The Environment Agency has identified areas where water abstraction is already unsustainable. Examples include where it impacts on designated conservation sites (Natura 2000, SSSI) and more generally in the south east of England. In August 2007, the Environment Agency published its methodology for identifying and classifying relative levels of water stress in water company areas in England. The Secretary of State has used this map to designate areas of serious water stress. 

Demographic changes, new housing development and the likely impacts of climate change are all expected to increase pressure on water resources. Reduced domestic demand, through more efficient use of water in the home, will reduce the extent of abstraction needed for public supply, and offset new and existing pressures on water resources.

The Water Saving Group Action Plan

Since its establishment in 2005 the Group has been working on developing a programme of measures to promote water efficiency in households. Ministers have recently confirmed the Water Saving Group will operate for a further year. 

At its most recent meeting, the Group agreed a revised action plan for the year ahead. The new action plan contains six work streams, each led by different organisations, with the involvement of all members. The action plan is relevant across England, but recognises the significant regional variation in water resources and will target water stressed areas.

While the main focus of the Group work remains on households, it is also planning to undertake a review of the measures in place to promote water efficiency in the industrial and commercial sector. 

The action plan includes the following workstreams:

  • measuring success
  • information needs: gaps, priorities and funding
  • best practice in water company  promotion of water efficiency
  • understanding and changing customer perceptions and raising awareness
  • policy and regulatory framework
  • water efficiency measures in industry and commerce

The high-level Group meets at approximately six-monthly intervals. Between each meeting an official-level Group  is responsible for carrying forward the action plan as agreed at the high level meetings.

The minutes from the high-level and official level WSG meetings, attached below, show the progress in the most recent meetings.

Recent developments
  • Saving water, we can make a difference (PDF 700 KB) - as part of the Government’s new water strategy for England, Future Water, the Water Saving Group has approved a list of top water saving tips
  • Government response to its consultation on water metering in areas of serious water stress, August 2007
  • Environment Agency response to its consultation on identifying areas of serious water stress, August 2007
  • Joint Defra/CLG policy statement on water efficiency in new buildings
  • CCWater’s research on customer attitudes to water use, November 2006
  • Ofwat’s publication of its water efficiency initiatives good practice register, November 2006
 
WSG minutes
 
Official level WSG minutes

 

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Page last modified: 13 May 2008
Page published: 26 October 2005

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs