Water shortages, housing and sustainability

We now have a situation where we have less water per head of population in our area than they do in the Sudan. Two of the reasons for this are increased usage and John Prescott's unsustainable housing plans, which are being implemented with no thought frankly for the infrastructure requirements which are necessary to accompany this programme, especially in terms of water supply.

The shortage of water is actually a matter which I raised on a number of occasions in the Commons, not least of all in my capacity as LibDem Shadow Environment Secretary. In my view there needs to be action taken to implement a sensible regional policy, to slow down the drift of people from the North to the South-East, which is happening under this government, with all the pressures that brings on our infrastructure.

We need to ensure that those houses which are built are of the highest standards environmentally, for example through requiring the separation of clean water from 'grey' water, thereby reducing the demand on existing water supplies.

We also need to do more to discourage unnecessary water use and it is for that reason that I have advocated the implementation of universal metering. It seems to me quite mad that, in an area of water shortages, people can run a tap 24 hours a day and pay exactly the same as someone who does not even turn a tap on. We would never think of charging for electricity and gas in this way and I see no reason why we should charge for water that way either. As a matter of fact the basis of most people's water bills is the theoretical amount they could have obtained in 1973 from renting out their property. That hardly seems to me a sensible way to conduct business in 2006.

The water companies themselves need to be encouraged to prevent leakage from pipes, which they have made some progress on but not enough, as well as encouraging other water-saving devices, for example hippo bags which can be fitted into toilet cisterns and reduce the waste of water from such activities.

Finally, there are some that suggest that the government should resurrect the idea of a national water grid. The water industry itself has no plans for this, primarily for reasons of cost. They do however have a duty under law to provide drinkable water to all premises which require it, including new build. It is the view of the industry that they can meet both present and future demand through a combination of measures which does not include a national grid, such as those I have outlined here.

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