Waterwise has welcomed the Government’s announcement yesterday that it will regulate for dual-flush or low-flush toilets to be standard in houses, and its new draft Code for Sustainable Homes which contains a significant increase in the water efficiency standards for new houses.
This will help ensure that water is available when we need it, for health, leisure and the environment, in the face of climate change and new housebuilding programmes – and will save people money. Waterwise will support and work with the government, regulators, industry, and others to help make it happen.
Jacob Tompkins, Director of Waterwise, said 'I applaud the Government for taking these steps to tackle water waste, which are great news for all of us. With climate change and new house building programmes increasing pressure on supply, and the amount of water each of us use rising, action is needed to bridge the gap. Alongside the Government’s new Water Saving Group to reduce household water consumption, these measures will help ensure that water will continue to be available when we need it, for health, leisure and the environment, by cutting waste.'
'Importantly, as the Code states, these measures will reduce the average household water bill by £48. We look forward to working with the government, regulators, and industry, including the bathroom manufacturers, the water supply industry and the homebuilders, to ensure their timely delivery. Practical measures which gain consumer support will make the difference in behaviour as well as in buildings – we welcome the steps the Government took yesterday in this spirit.'
Detail:
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There has been drought in parts of England and Wales this year, following the driest 10 month period for 30 years, and the prospect for next year looks even worse if we have another dry winter. In the UK, we have fewer water resources than almost any other European country. With environmental and social developments certain to add to the pressure on the water supply network, and concerns about affordability, water efficiency becomes ever-more essential
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The Government’s response to the Barker Review of Housing, published by the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott alongside the Pre-Budget Report yesterday, sets out a commitment to regulate for dual-flush or low flush toilets to become standard in all new homes, saving around 10% of water consumption in the average household
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The new draft Government Code for Sustainable Buildings, also published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister yesterday alongside the Pre-Budget Report, contains five levels of sustainability, including water efficiency as one of the six essential elements. The mandatory minimum level is set at a maximum of 125 litres per person per day, or 46 metres cubed per bedspace per year – a significant improvement on the current average consumption per capita in England and Wales of around 150 litres per day
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The Code’s star rating system contains 5 increasingly stringent water efficiency targets where additional points will be awarded – less than or equal to 42, 37, 34, 32 and 30 m cubed per bedspace per yr. All new publicly funded homes will be expected to reach level 3, building on the Government’s 2005 manifesto commitment that from April 2006 all new homes receiving Government funding will meet the Code.
Further information
Melanie Cooper, Programme Manager, Waterwise: 020 7344 1805
Jacob Tompkins, Director, Waterwise: 07793 709567
Notes
· Waterwise is a UK NGO dedicated to reversing the current upward trend in consumption of water per person by 2010, and to building an evidence base for large-scale water efficiency
· The Government’s response to the Barker Reviewing of Housing can be found at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pre_budget_report/prebud_pbr05/assoc_docs/prebud_pbr05_adbarker.cfm
· The consultation document “Proposals for introducing a Code for Sustainable Homes” can be found at http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1162094
· The Government’s press release announcing the new Code can be found at http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2025
The Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report speech in Parliament can be found at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pre_budget_report/prebud_pbr05/prebud_pbr05_speech.cfm
