An environmental contract for water

Citizens will:

• monitor water usage in their homes and act to reduce it
• turn off taps when not using them
• have fewer baths
• change water fittings for those with lower water use
• use rainwater for watering garden etc
• obey restrictions on water usage in times of water stress.

Government will:

• ensure adequate supplies of safe, clean, affordable drinking water
• regulate to ensure that new and renovated buildings incorporate water saving features as standard
• work with the industry and the regulator to tackle leakage and waste
• promote efficient use of water
• provide and install rainwater storage systems for citizens on a cost recovery basis
• commission research into the effects of climate change on the availability and quality of water in the UK
• ensure that planning authorities are obliged to take into account availability of water when considering planning applications
• work with the farming industry and environmental regulators to tackle the problem of diffuse water pollution from agriculture
• take water resources and drought (and other environmental limits) clearly and transparently into account when proposing house building levels for regions and arguing for an appropriate balance betwen the north and the south of the country