Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
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Databank www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | JUNE 2018 | 29 GOAL 6 WATER CONSUMPTION With the twin challenges of population growth and climate change putting the pressure on water resources in the medium to long term, reducing average household water consumption is a key strategic objective for the UK water industry, which is why it is one of Ofwat's common performance commitments for the regulated water utilities in PR19. Average consumption across the country – at 141 litres per day per person per day – compares unfavourably to similar countries such as Germany (121 litres) and the UK government has set an as- pirational target for the sector of 130L per person per day. Metering is the strongest tool in the box for reducing consumption, with metered customers using 33 litres less per day on average. This is re‹ ected in individual water company Œ gures - Southern Water has rolled out metering the most aggressively in recent years (from 52.2% metered in 2011 to 85.6% in 2016) and has seen the biggest drop in con- sumption over the same peri- od. By contrast, consumption among companies which have not pushed metering have ‹ atlined, or even increased, in recent years. The issue h as a higher proŒ le in the south and east of England as these areas are more water-stressed. As well as metering, water companies will be looking to drive numbers down by pro- moting water-saving gadgets, deploying educational cam- paigns (including in schools), and tackling customer-side leakage. WATER CONSUMPTION Customers with a water meter use 127 litres per person per day Average water use for all customers England and Wales 141 litres per person per day Customers without a water meter use 160 litres per person per day 141 The average water consumption per person in England and Wales 2016-7 Source: Discover Water litres per day Southern Water 85.6% Northumbrian Water 33.1% Highest proportion of meters: Lowest proportion of customers metered: Customers without a Average water use Customers with a Water & sewerage companies 2011- 12 2012- 13 2013- 14 2014- 15 2015- 16 2016- 17 Anglian 145 136 135 133 135 136 Dwr Cymru 152 144 14 5 142 139 145 Northumbrian 146 141 141 142 145 141 Severn Trent 125 121 129 126 130 132 South West 135 137 137 135 137 136 Southern 157 143 141 135 132 131 Thames 161 155 156 151 149 146 United Utilities 132 128 129 130 130 139 Wessex 140 136 138 139 138 141 Yorkshire 136 133 136 133 133 135 Water only companies Affi nity 158 149 155 148 152 155 Bournemouth 146 142 144 138 134 144 Bristol 142 141 144 143 141 144 Cambridge 141 133 130 131 131 133 Dee Valley 138 136 133 130 135 135 Essex & Suff olk 153 147 152 151 151 152 Portsmouth 160 149 148 146 143 145 South East 167 159 156 148 161 151 South Staff s 136 128 131 129 129 127 SES Water 169 162 167 161 158 160 Source: CCWater/Discover Water Water consumption per person per day - by water company England & Wales Water consumption per person per day - England and Wales - last 5 years 2011-12 145.8 2013-14 141.5 2015-16 139.6 2012-13 140.1 2014-15 138.6 2016-17 141 UK government aspirational target - 130 litres (source: CCWater)