Practical steps to water affordability
Posted: Friday 11th January 2008
Water bill payers across England could benefit from the findings of a two-year water affordability study in the south west, Environment Minister Phil Woolas said recently.
The pilot programme, which was commissioned by Defra, looked at the combined effect on low income households of benefit entitlement checks, water efficiency measures, and water metering in helping customers afford their water bills.
Reports published by Defra show that:
- Overall, the pilot programme was cost beneficial, with savings of over ten times the cost of providing the service;
- The largest gains were made as a result of benefit entitlement checks, and from unmeasured households switching to a metered tariff; and
- The programme was most successful in helping those households which spend more than 3% of disposable income on water and sewerage bills.
Phil Woolas said:
“Water affordability is a serious issue and not only in the south west. There are some very important lessons here which could be of value to vulnerable households in other parts of the country.
“South West Water has responded very positively, and on its own initiative is now rolling out the measures more widely. A further 7,500 homes in the region may benefit over three years.
“Clearly this pilot doesn’t provide a single solution to the problem of affordability. It is a complex issue and water industry stakeholders must keep working together to find ways of addressing it.
“But I want to see water companies in other parts of the country looking at these results, to consider what they can learn from them and whether this is something they can take forward in their own regions.”
The Government is currently developing a national water strategy which will take a joined up approach to tackling the pressures on the water environment presented by changes in climate, demand, development, and population growth. Water affordability, charging, and tariffs will be part of the strategy, which is to be published early in the new year.
