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Despite four water companies lifting the hosepipe ban this week, Waterwise urges consumers to keep up the good work and continue to practice water efficiency. Water efficient behaviour now will prevent the need for further hosepipe bans this summer.
Recent rain may have brought short term relief to our water supplies in the south-east to enable the lifting of hosepipe bans but long term threats of drought are still a danger. The drought in south-east England is not a one off, but an indication of long term climate change.
‘We must all take action now to be water efficient to prevent the need for further hosepipe restrictions in the future. The recent rain is perfect for replenishing our reservoirs, however our groundwater supplies are still the lowest they have been for decades. In order to fillup these supplies we need consistent, above average rainfall, for the next six months,’ says Jacob Tompkins, Director of Waterwise.
If we do not take action now, climate change, population shifts and behaviour mean the UK will face increased water stress in the future. In the last 12 months we have all shown that small changes in behaviour such as turning off the tap when brushing your teeth, fitting a hippo in our toilet or taking shorter showers can lower the demand for water by up to 10% We need to continue with these good habits in order to keep the water flowing through the taps.
Waterwise was commissioned by the Government to review the current legislation covering hosepipe bans: Waterwise put the emphasis on reducing waste not use. Other water restrictions legislation throughout the world allows the watering of gardens even in times of severe drought. For example the Australian model of water restrictions allows the watering of gardens through drip irrigation, before 10am and after 4pm on two days a week.
‘This type of restriction on water use allows for sensible waterwise gardening, whilst still conserving our precious supply.’ says Jacob Tompkins, ‘By increasing the awareness of the need to save water and planning sensible restrictions on the way people use their water we can ensure the future of our water supply.’
Notes to Editors
1. Waterwise is an independent, not for profit, non-governmental organisation focused on decreasing water consumption in the UK by 2010 and building the evidence base for large scale water efficiency. We are the leading authority on water efficiency in the UK. We sit on the UK Environment Minister’s Water Saving Group alongside the water industry and regulators.
2. Our aim is to reverse the upward trend in how much water we all use at home and at work by 2010.
3. We work together with key partners in the water companies, governments (UK, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and local governments), manufacturers, retailers, NGOs, environmentalists, regulators, agriculture, business, domestic consumers and the media.
4. Waterwise founded the Waterwise Marque in October 2006 which is the first award scheme of its kind in the UK. We award the Marque annually to water using products which highlight water efficiency or reduce water wastage. We are currently calling for entries until the end of January 2007.
5. For more information please visit www.waterwise.org.uk
6. Waterwise working with nine other NGOs has produced a Blueprint for water showing how water efficiency is a key element of water resource management. This document is intended to shape UK water policy over the next ten years. For more information visit
www.blueprintforwater.org.uk
Contacts:
Chris Philpot
Media and Campaigns Manager, Waterwise
020 7957 4615
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1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1H 9BT
Jacob Tompkins
Director, Waterwise
07793 709567
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1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1H 9BT
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