Angela Smith MP

  Angela is working with Southern Water to help encourage greater water efficiency across the UK. Currently each person in the UK consumes on average 141 litres per person every day.

The ambitious programme, Target 100, is designed to help reduce consumption to 100 litres of water per person per day by 2040. This could save the equivalent of 164 cups of tea for each person in the UK every day.

Ms Smith is promoting simple actions which can add up to big savings. A running tap wastes 6 litres of water every minute, while simply ensuring washing machines and dishwashers are only used for full loads can save up to 5,000 litres a year.

Angela said:

“It is crucial that business, government and customers do all they can to use water efficiently and sustainably. I’m happy to back Southern Water’s campaign to encourage everyone to save water.

“It is important to remember that simple steps add up to big impacts and we must do more to help people save water and save money. We can do this by targeting 100 litres.”

Ian McAulay, CEO of Southern Water said:

"Target 100 is vital action to secure the South East’s water supply, and help support the rest of the UK, for the long-term.

“It is also a commitment to our customers. Neither company nor customers can achieve this alone.

"Southern Water is also working to cut leakage by 50 per cent by 2050 and help the people of the South East to reduce their consumption to 100 litres per person per day.”

Southern Water’s new water saving manifesto: Target 100 Act Today, Save Tomorrow has seven recommendations for how water companies, government and consumers can together reduce water use – The report can be read here

1.     Increase awareness of the value and utility of water

Water companies, regulators, schools and NGOs must work together to help people understand the value and utility of water

2.     Ensure water consumption is measured and communicated
Companies should implement compulsory water metering – regardless of water stressed status and ensure consumers receive clear information on usage

3.     Label water using products effectively
All water using products should clearly state how efficient they are – enabling customers to make informed decisions

4.     Incentivise sustained behaviour change
Companies should incentivise the right choices to achieve sustained behaviour change

5.     Make new homes more sustainable and efficient

Building regulations should be adapted to ensure new homes are water efficient by design

6.     Continue significantly reducing leakage

All water companies should maintain leading efforts to reduce leakage

7.     Link water efficiency to other critical policy areas

Water efficiency needs to feed into crucial policy linked to housing, energy, planning, communities and agriculture policy