An urgent call to action has been raised to get the country back on track reducing demand for water across England, not only to tackle the growing national water deficit (around four billion litres of water a day by 2050), but also to support net zero ambitions.

Nicci Russell, the independent Chair of the Senior Water Demand Reduction Group (SWDRG), has written to Government, regulators and water companies calling on them to act now and make changes that will ensure enough water is available in future for the environment, people and businesses.

The SWDRG was established by Ministers in 2020 to track progress on water demand reductions in England and to recommend if and when more action is needed to stay on track.

Nicci Russell, who is also Managing Director of water efficiency campaigning organisation Waterwise, said:

‘Water consumption in homes has increased by over 60% since the 1960s. Despite efforts to reverse this trend and to reduce demand we haven’t yet seen significant reductions - even in the few years before Covid-19, household consumption had only plateaued, and during the pandemic household demand has risen to levels not seen for nearly 20 years.

‘While there’s ongoing uncertainty about the pandemic, and whether the shift in water use from the workplace to homes will continue, what is certain is that there is an urgent need to reduce demand for water.”

The letter, which was written in her role as independent Chair of the Senior Water Demand Reduction Group and not on behalf of it, calls for policymakers is to centre water efficiency in the climate crisis - net zero and adaptation.

After space heating, heating water for taps and showers is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the home. The reduction in emissions from the water sector’s commitment to net zero operational emissions by 2030 could be doubled if accompanied by just a 10% reduction in hot water demand.

Nicci Russell continued:

‘Water efficiency is essential in adaptation and climate justice right across England - making the increasingly scarce water we do have available go as far as possible, for the environment, homes and businesses.

‘The government’s net zero retrofit strategy for homes and other buildings offers the opportunity to achieve further, very cost-effective, reductions in both energy and water use by including water-saving measures (and certification) in such schemes.’

Around 5-6% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions are from household water supply and use: 90% of these water-related emissions are from how water is used in the home for heating and washing.

The rest is from water companies supplying water and dealing with wastewater -Nicci Russell points out that only this last element is included in the water industry’s net zero target.

She also draws attention to the fact that reducing water demand reduces carbon emissions by minimising both treatment and pumping and the need for new costly carbon concrete infrastructure. Similarly, decarbonisation will impact water use – high carbon emitting industries also use large amounts of water.

Alongside the call to centre water efficiency in the climate crisis, the letter sets out recommendations in a further three policy areas that Ministers, regulators and water companies should take forward – beyond existing commitments:

1. Ensure homes and buildings are water-efficient

2. Drive down water demand in businesses

3. Support a culture change in customer behaviour

The letter also recommends that the new water demand target under the Environment Act 2021 should be more ambitious than current plans.

Nicci commented:

‘The Group welcomes the new statutory demand target. As independent Chair, I believe that, as with the Climate Change Act for carbon, the statutory water targets should drive ambition - and not simply reflect current practice. This is urgent, and an issue right across the country.’

Click here to read the letter in full.