Every home should have a water meter, and power showers should be
banned, an environmental watchdog will say today.
The call comes from the Government's Environment Agency under a policy
that amounts to 'rationing by price'.
The introduction of smart meters could see families charged more for
water in the summer months in order to stop them filling up paddling
pools or washing their cars.
The agency argues that a drastic reduction in water use is needed
to conserve supplies and save the planet.
It claims that universal meters would cut average household water
use by as much as 15 per cent.
However, such a move would come with a huge bill for the public -
estimated at more than £1billion.
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The agency warned: 'Water resources are already under pressure in
many parts of the country, with some 25million people living in areas
where there is less available water per person than Spain or Morocco.
'Climate change will reduce the amount of water available in rivers
in England and Wales by 10-15 per cent by 2050, and up to as much
as 80 per cent during summer months.
'This, along with a potential 20million increase in the population
of England and Wales, will put even greater pressure on the country's
limited water supplies.'
