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Water conservation: Water Saving Group (WSG)

Established in October 2005, the Water Saving Group brings together key water industry organisations to combine their skills and experience in order to promote the efficient use of water in households in England.  The first Government led Group of its kind, it seeks to identify ways of raising awareness about water efficiency, as well as identifying collaborative work to improve the evidence base and contribute to demand management in the long term. 

The Group is Chaired by Phil Woolas, Minister of State for the Environment and is made up of representatives from the following organisations:


The problem

The Environment Agency has identified areas where water abstraction is already unsustainable. Examples include where it impacts on designated conservation sites (Natura 2000, SSSI) and more generally in the south east of England. Demographic changes, new housing development and the likely impacts of climate change are all expected to increase pressure on water resources.

Reduced domestic demand, through more efficient use of water in the home, will reduce the extent of abstraction needed for public supply, and offset new and existing pressures on water resources.


The Water Saving Group Action Plan

The Group is working on developing a programme of measures to promote water efficiency in households.  At the first meeting the members of the WSG agreed an action plan (PDF 20 KB). The action plan contains five work streams led by different organisations, with the involvement of all members.  The action plan is relevant across England, but recognises the significant regional variation in water resources and will target water stressed areas. The projects outlined cover:

    • customer perceptions and awareness
    • best practice in promoting water efficiency
    • information gaps, priorities and funding
    • policy and regulatory framework
    • measuring success

    The high-level Group meets at approximately six-monthly intervals. Between each meeting an official-level Group  is responsible for carrying forward the action plan as agreed at the high level meetings.

    The minutes from the high-level and official level WSG meetings, attached below, show the progress made since the first meeting.

    Recent developments
    • Government response to its consultation on water metering in areas of serious water stress, August 2007
    • Environment Agency response to its consultation on identifying areas of serious water stress, August 2007
    • Joint Defra/CLG policy statement on water efficiency in new buildings
    • CCWater’s research on customer attitudes to water use, November 2006
    • Ofwat’s publication of its water efficiency initiatives good practice register, November 2006
     
    WSG minutes

    Official level WSG minutes

     


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    Page last modified: 5 October 2007
    Page published: 26 October 2005

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs