WIREDGOV

The Consumer Council for Water has responded to a report by the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) which has called for major improvements to water infrastructure in England.

The report warns that there is a one-in-four chance large numbers of households will be left without water for lengthy periods over the next 30 years unless urgent action is taken to address the growing risk of drought.

The NIC has put forward a series of recommendations including ramping up investment in infrastructure, pressing water companies to halve leakage levels by 2050 and widening the rollout of compulsory metering programmes.

Responding to the report, Tony Smith, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Water, said: “We are challenging water companies to be bold in their ambition to secure a resilient water supply for current and future generations. It would never be acceptable for customers’ taps to run dry.”

“The report echoes our long-held view that the water industry needs to show much more ambition in tackling leakage. Consumers’ own motivation to save water can be dampened if they don’t think their water company is pulling its weight in reducing leakage and some poor performers are letting the industry down.”