The report, published by the independent not for profit organisation Waterwise is mainly focused on the public water supply sector, but contains a number of proposals that farmers and growers will no doubt be happy to support.
The strategy calls for water efficiency to be included in local planning policies through local area agreements, supplemented by guidance to councils.
Through its strategy Waterwise is demanding that new housing developments should be required to meet a water-use limit of 110 litres per person per day (current average consumption stands at 140 litres per day according to the Consumer Council for Water).
It also calls for water companies and government to work together to develop large-scale water efficiency retrofit schemes across the UK.
Other recommendations of interest to farmers and growers include:
- Creating a central water information system to provide a detailed picture of drought and its impacts
- Developing a mandatory water-efficient product labelling scheme
- Trialling of rebates to encourage customers to buy water-efficient devices
- Undertaking research into the costs and benefits of rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse
- Allowing water companies to introduce full metering beyond areas designated as water-stressed
- Fitting water meters in all homes by 2030
- Making sure water company business plans, price determinations and water resource plans are ‘water neutral’, thereby requiring no additional abstraction or new supply
- Building water efficiency into sustainable drainage (SuDS) projects.
In contributing to the consultation exercise leading up to the launch of the new strategy, the NFU stressed its interest in future challenges relating to water scarcity and the relationship between water security and food security, particularly during dry and drought conditions.
We therefore welcome reference in the Waterwise report to growing importance of the ‘Food-Water-Energy’ nexus.
Paul Hammett, NFU water resources specialist, said that the NFU is interested in finding ways for agriculture to join in with the public supply sector on common messages relating to water efficiency.
“We are keen to support farmers and growers in improving their own best practice in the efficient use of water”, he said.
“Since the public supply sector is invariably the dominant water user even in the most agricultural catchments, it follows that improved efficiency in the water sector may help to relieve pressure on environmental and agricultural need”.
The Water Efficiency Strategy can be read here