Taps, showers, dishwashers and
washing machines could all have new water efficiency labels, in a
move which will help save consumers over £270 million on bills
over 10 years.
The plans, subject to a 12-week
consultation launched today (2 September) by the UK Government
and Devolved Administrations, will encourage the purchase of more
water-efficient products and help customers manage their water
and energy bills.
Based on 2019 prices, the label
could save £125 million on water bills and £147 million on energy
bills over 10 years, as well as 1,200 million litres of water a
day - the equivalent of 480 Olympic swimming pools.
Water Minister said:
“Water is a precious
resource. We want to support consumers so they can make savings
without having to make significant changes to their daily
lives.
“These plans will help
people to make the right choices to save water and reduce their
energy bills.”
The proposals aim to introduce
a separate water label from the existing energy label for display
on toilets, urinals, kitchen sink taps, bathroom basin taps,
non-electric shower outlet devices and shower assembly solutions,
dishwashers, washing machines and combination
washer/dryers.
Hot water use is the second
largest use of energy in a home after space heating. Installing a
water-efficient showerhead could save an average household (2.3
occupants) 3,762 litres of water, and £17.44 off their combined
utility bills per year. A family of four could save 6,468 litres
and about £30 off their combined energy and water bill each
year.
In 2021 alone, energy
efficiency labelling and minimum performance standards led to
energy bill savings of £75 for the average dual-fuel
household.
, Ofwat CEO,
said:
"This summer has
highlighted the importance of water. Water labelling is a key
tool, helping everybody make informed choices that can reduce
their water use and bills. Managing water demand plays a
role in tackling the pressures on our water system, alongside
pushing water companies to reduce leakage and looking at new
sources and water transfers to increase our future water supply.
We support the proposals and look forward to seeing the outcome
of this consultation."
Christine McGourty,
Water UK Chief Executive, said:
“The Government’s proposals
on water efficiency labelling are a vital step forward in
reducing the amount of water we all use, and will allow customers
to make informed decisions as well as save money and
energy.
“Alongside the work that
water companies are already doing to tackle leakage from pipes,
and invest in infrastructure, cutting water use will help make
our water supply more resilient to the existential challenges of
climate change.”
The consultation launch follows
a commitment from the Environment Secretary last year to
introduce a mandatory efficiency label as part of wider plans to safeguard water
supplies.
The package
includes asking water companies to develop a consistent
approach on fixing customer supply pipe leakage and developing a
roadmap towards greater water efficiency in new
developments and through retrofits.
These measures, along with the
work from water companies to reduce leakage by 50%, will help
meet the ambitions set out in the National Framework for Water
Resources to reduce personal water
consumption to 110 litres per person per day by 2050, compared
with the current average of 145 litres.
This year we
have witnessed the driest July across England since 1935,
and since records began for the East and South East.
We have been clear water
companies must take urgent action to fix leaks, and Ofwat has put
in place clear financial consequences for companies that
underperform on leakage. We also expect water companies to make
use of smarter technology to help manage water demand and reduce
leaks
This comes alongside ongoing
action to hold companies to account on sewage spills. On Friday
we announced that water companies will face the strictest
targets on pollution from sewage ever under a
new plan to tackle sewage discharges in our waters.
You can respond to the
consultation here: (https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water-efficiency-labelling/water-efficiency-labelling)
