People think England is a really wet country, and that there’s water everywhere
But they’re wrong. There isn’t.
Much of southern England is currently classified as seriously water-stressed.
The 1980s privatisation wave has meant much of our water infrastructure is in dire need of updating. Almost everything is 100 years old, and we’re all hoping it still works. Sadly, this is the same for roads and trains.
Without significant action, the National Audit Office (NAO) forecasts that England’s total water demand will start to exceed supply no later than 2034.
But what can we do about it?
To improve water use, we need to do two things.
One — we need smart water meters.
We did it with gas and electricity, and water is often easier because you can access water meters outside the home.
Two — we give everybody a set allowance.
Let’s say it’s 150L per person per day. If you exceed it, you pay a premium or a tax.
This isn’t about penalising the everyday person
It’s about creating an economic disincentive for water overconsumption.
People say water should be cheap. But they’re wrong. The solution is more nuanced.
It should be affordable for normal use and expensive for over usage.
