Latest news with #Waterwise
BBC News
3 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
University of Surrey report urges rethink over future water use
Customers and the water industry must work together to reduce water use, an academic study has from the University of Surrey's Institute for Sustainability have been working with more than 100 professionals, including some from nine UK water university's report said companies should do more to understand how their customers use water, before helping them change their habits to help conserve also said installing more smart meters and fixing leaks would not be enough, with England projected to face a daily shortfall of five billion litres by 2055. How can I reduce my water usage?England needs more hosepipe bans and smart water meters - watchdog Prof Benjamin Gardner, lead author of the report and professor of psychology at the University of Surrey, said: "Most people don't know how much water they use. "The sector has focused on smart meters, which will raise awareness of water use – but smart meters alone won't cut it."The real challenge is in helping people to better recognise and understand how they use water and supporting them to continue doing their everyday activities, but in a more water-wise way. "To do that, the sector needs to make better use of behavioural science." 'The human factor' It suggests focussing on issues such as fixing leaks in their homes, taking shorter showers and not flushing toilets so often, and says the water industry should focus on technology to work alongside these Russell from Waterwise, a non-profit organisation which promotes water efficiency that took part in the study, said: "Research into behaviour helps us design smarter policies, technologies and communications that support people to use water more wisely."We can't afford to ignore the human factor. Water efficiency isn't just about infrastructure - it's about people, choices, habits, and values."
Telegraph
10-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Hosepipe bans are here again. The UK must prepare for the coming era of drought
Water scarcity is becoming a global problem as droughts become more frequent, longer, and more severe. At the same time, demand for water is rising due to population growth, urbanisation, and economic activities. Unsustainable water policies and poor management are making the situation worse. The UK is not exempt from this global trend. Droughts have occurred regularly, and yet the country remains unprepared. According to the Environment Agency, April 2025 was the fourth driest on record in north-east England since 1871. In parts of Cumbria and Northumbria, it has been the driest start to the year since 1929. A hosepipe ban has just been implemented in Yorkshire and other water companies are warning of more. The future is likely to bring more frequent and extended droughts because of climate change. Despite this, long-term planning to reduce the impact of droughts on people, businesses, and the environment is still lacking. Most current actions focus on short-term responses such as monitoring, issuing permits, and restricting water use. Broader, long-term strategies have yet to be formulated. While infrastructure like reservoirs, pipelines, and treatment plants is important, other areas need more attention. These include improving water use efficiency, encouraging conservation, and reducing demand across all sectors. Waterwise's UK Water Efficiency Strategy to 2030 stresses that saving water should be a central part of national policy. Technologies like desalination can help, but they need to be part of a wider strategy as it is the case in Singapore, for example. They may produce costly water that is used inefficiently or becomes too expensive. In some Gulf countries, for example, desalinated water is widely available, but overall water use remains high and inefficient. Before planning for desalination, cities in coastal cities in England should reduce their water losses. Clean rivers and lakes are also essential. Pollution from sewage, urban runoff, industrial discharges, fertilisers and pesticides has long affected UK's water sources. When water is polluted, it becomes less usable, making the effects of prolonged droughts worse. Industrial water use should also be reviewed. For instance, data centres, which support AI and mobile connectivity, use large amounts of water, especially for cooling. In the UK and elsewhere, they are competing with local communities for access to clean water. In Singapore, water efficiency is required across all sectors, including data centres and manufacturing. The UK has yet to introduce similar rules. If a long drought occurs, will data centres and other industries face water restrictions? What would the consequences be? Should they be prioritised over other users due to their importance, or should they be required to become efficient starting now? The UK government considers water a national priority, but implementable plans to conserve it much better are long overdue. Droughts affect not only water and wastewater systems, but also energy supply, agriculture and overall ecosystems. Planning ahead means ensuring all sectors become more efficient and less polluting, so droughts cause less disruption. Water-saving habits by individuals, almost 70 million in the UK, can make a difference and should be supported by policy and adopted widely. Is it really that bad to wash cars using water in buckets? The next reporting deadline for the All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Sustainable Flood and Drought Management is 9 February 2026, seven months away. This would be a timely opportunity to discuss a national strategy that is financially viable for drought preparation that protects people, economic sectors, and the environment.
West Australian
10-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Final Stage 12 lots released at Broome's Waranyjarri Estate as strong demand for housing continues
Broome homebuyers have one last chance to secure land in the popular Waranyjarri Estate, with the final four lots in Stage 12 now up for grabs. The newly released residential lots range in size from 621sqm to 983sqm, offering generous space for families looking to build in one of Broome's fastest-growing areas. A separate 1323sqm group housing lot is also expected to be released later this year, providing even more housing options within the estate, which has been certified as both EnviroDevelopment and Waterwise — the only regional development in WA to hold both accreditations. Planning and Lands Minister John Carey said the rapid sales were a clear sign of strong demand in the region. 'This new release adds even more choice for home-buyers in Broome, with generous-sized lots ideal for families in the Kimberley,' Mr Carey said. 'The pace at which these lots have sold is remarkable — it's a clear sign of the strong appetite for well-located, sustainable land in Broome. 'Waranyjarri Estate continues to demonstrate how we can deliver sustainable communities that meet local demand and support long-term growth in regional Western Australia.' Kimberley MLA Divina D'Anna welcomed the new release, calling it an important step in meeting Broome's housing needs. 'It is great to see this Stage 12 land release and the continued progress of Waranyjarri Estate in response to the growing demand for sustainable residential land and housing in Broome,' Ms D'Anna said. 'Our Government continues to take a proactive approach to land supply, innovative housing options and community development and I am excited to see Waranyjarri Estate continue to expand to meet these needs.' Waranyjarri Estate is part of the broader Broome North master plan, which will eventually deliver up to 4800 homes for about 13,000 residents. Located just 2km from Cable Beach and close to future parks, shops and community spaces, the estate is seen as a key part of Broome's future. All homes are connected to the NBN via fibre to the home.
ITV News
24-04-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Rising Bills & Pension Fears: How To Save Money
This month we've seen a number of household bills go up considerably for millions of us. From energy to council tax, how much they've risen varies, but in some cases it's the biggest increase in decades. So with our budgets already stretched by the cost of living, what will the impact be? And is there anything we can do to soften the blow? Price increases at the start of the financial year are normal.. But these rises are set to hit most of us especially hard. ' Households could be looking at £360 per year in additional costs. That's when you take into consideration the increase to the energy price cap, higher water bills, higher broadband, mobile phone, TV license and car tax.' - AMY KNIGHT - Personal Finance Expert, NerdWallet UK Nearly 9 in 10 councils in England have increased their council tax by the maximum permitted 4.99% from the first of April. Richard Lane is from the debt charity StepChange. They've worked extensively with people who haven't been able to afford to pay their bill and have concerns over the way they are treated. 'There are lots of vulnerable households who are being asked to pay amounts of money that they simply can't afford. We'd ask for a few things. One, the councils start engaging as early as possible when they see signs of financial distress amongst their residents. Secondly, we need to see council tax support payments being put in place more effectively, and that is central government funding being made available for councils to do that.' - RICHARD LANE - Chief Client Officer, StepChange Debt Charity The Local Government Association told us: 'Councils strive to recover unpaid tax as sympathetically as possible. Local welfare schemes run by councils, including council tax relief and the Household Support Fund, are also available alongside targeted government help. Anyone having trouble paying their council bills should get in touch with their local authority for financial help and advice as soon as possible.' In April, water bills went up on average 26% across the country. The biggest rise since privatisation of water companies more than 30 years ago. Jo Obsborn is from Waterwise - which helps people save money on their water bills. A washing machine typically uses around 50 litres of water per load. So cutting out unnecessary laundry is an easy win. You can also save a lot of water in the bathroom. ' If you've got a family of 4 and you leave the tap running when you brush your teeth, you can use a whole bath full of water a day. So it's a really quick, easy way to make sure you save water.' JO OSBORN - Head of Policy and Research, Waterwise With all of our essential bills on the rise, and the future of the money we've saved uncertain - it seems we all might have to work a bit harder to keep our budgets on track. Useful info
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The simple method to check whether you have a leaking toilet without realising it - and save hundreds of pounds
With the cost-of-living crisis still looming, many Britons are looking to save money where possible. Because of this, a money saving expert has revealed a savvy trick to reveal whether you have a leaking toilet, which could be wasting hundreds of pounds on water bills a year. Talking in ITV 's show, Rising Bills & Pension Fears: How to Save Money, which airs at 8:30pm tonight, Jo Orbson, Head of Policy and Research at Waterwise, explored the problem. 'A leaky loo can waste up to 400 litres of water a day, which is like having another few people living in your house,' she said. However, it might not be immediately obvious that a toilet is leaking, and so she shared a simple method to check. Orbson said: 'All you need is your loo roll, and then pop a piece of toilet paper on the back, if you come back and it's soggy, you've got a leaky loo.' A professional plumber will likely find the issue an easy fix or those not not afraid of DIY can find a solution online. Elsewhere, the expert also warned of the importance of shutting the tap when brushing your teeth. She said, 'If you've got a family of four and you leave the tap running when you brush your teeth, you can use a whole bath full of water a day.' Waterwise expert Orbson added, 'So it's a really quick, easy way to make sure you save water.' It comes as water bills are set to rise by more than a quarter next year - adding an average of £123 to the average annual bill. The price increases - the largest in three decades - have been branded as 'daylight robbery' by campaigners after suppliers paid out billions to their shareholders while polluting rivers. The hike, confirmed by industry body Water UK, will take the average water and wastewater bill from £480 to £603 for the next year alone. But millions will face even steeper rises. Southern Water customers will be hit with a 47 per cent increase, at Hafren Dyfrdwy, South West Water and Bournemouth Water bills will rise by 32 per cent, at Thames Water by 31 per cent and at Yorkshire Water by 29 per cent. Householders with Southern Water will see their bill go up to £ increases are even higher than those announced by Ofwat just before Christmas as they include inflation. Water UK said firms would invest around £20 billion from April 2025 to March 2026, the highest ever level of expenditure in a single year, and the first in a five-year programme of investment worth £104 billion up to 2030. It comes after Martin Lewis issued some cash-saving advice to people with three or more bedrooms - insisting they could pocket £500 a year. Speaking on the BBC Radio 5 Live Podcast with Adrian Chiles, the money-saving expert, 52, laid out what he described as the 'three bedroom rule', promising people they could save on their bills by monitoring one key amenity. He said anyone who had three bedrooms in their home should be asking how many people live there compared to the number of rooms. If the number of people living in the home was equal to or less than the number of bedrooms, Martin said there was a good chance that your bills could be slashed. However, he prefaced the 'rule' by explaining that it would only be applicable to people who live in England and Wales - since it works differently in Scotland and Northern Ireland. 'The first question you ask yourself is, "Do you have more or the same number of bedrooms in your property than people?"' Martin said. If the house contains fewer residents than the number of bedrooms, the money-saving expert says you may be overpaying on your water bill. Martin said if this is the case, people ought to consider having a water meter installed rather than simply paying the standard annual fee. He said this was because 'the bill is based on the value of your property' - and the bigger the property, the bigger the bill, even if the usage itself is actually low. Since fewer people living in a property would reduce the amount of water used, people may be paying over the odds for a higher predicted usage.
