Water Minister Emma Hardy has urged people to consider changing “small habits and behaviours” as drought conditions persist following this summer’s heatwaves. In an interview with The Mirror, she said Britons do not need to be “worried” about water shortages but should reflect on the “small and minor changes that help us all collectively save water.”
Public frustration over leaks
Ms Hardy acknowledged that the public find it “infuriating” to be asked to save water when they see leaks at the bottom of their street, adding that there is also a “huge push” for water companies to stop wastage.
Among the suggested changes, she said people should consider using the eco button on their dishwashers or washing machines, turning off the tap when brushing their teeth, and ensuring they use the correct flush button on the toilet. Some water firms are also giving out free water butts to encourage people to collect rainwater for watering gardens in the summer.
Ofwat’s campaign and rainfall targets
Pointing to Ofwat’s Let’s Save Water campaign, which launched in May, Ms Hardy said: “We're asking people to do really small changes like turn the tap off when you're brushing your teeth, think about how much water that you're using. Use the eco button when you're doing your washing - for your dishwasher, for your washing machine.”
She added: “I mean, really small and minor changes that help us all collectively save water because we've just had the driest summer in a century. We are entering into winter now. We need in some areas of the country 120% of average long-term rainfall to make sure that we start next year out of drought.”
Ms Hardy also noted: “There is a possibility that we will next year enter into drought in more areas of the country if we continue to see what we're seeing more recently, which is these longer, drier, hotter summers, so I do think it's something that we need to not worry about, but we should care about and we should sort of reflect.”
Minister’s own changes
Asked if she has changed any of her habits, the minister said: “I've definitely started saving water for watering my plants. I've recently moved house, so I need to get a new water butt installed on my drain pipes as well. It's been quite interesting because before I got this brief, water use wasn't something I thought about. It wasn't something I really considered, and I spend so much time thinking about water, it has made me sort of change and think a bit differently.”
According to the latest official update, severe drought remains in parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, and East and West Sussex. England needs at least 120% of average rainfall over the next six months for the entire country to be out of drought by next spring.
Public water supplies remain under pressure in some drought-affected areas despite good rainfall in October. Reservoir and groundwater storage continue to decline for several water companies.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to repair Britain’s water industry, which has seen increasing leakages, sewage spills and surging bills. In September, he announced plans to bring in new laws to allow the Government to take back control of water, criticising privatisation under Margaret Thatcher. He told The Mirror at the time: “Water, housing, energy and transport are the essentials of everyday life and the everyday economy. We rely on them. We pay for them. And we should have more power over them.”
