The Government should expand its energy saving schemes to include water efficiency to safeguard affordability for low income and vulnerable households as water meters are introduced, according to a new report from the policy think tank, Sustainability First.

Water efficiency measures would also provide significant environmental benefits, reducing water and energy use and thus carbon emissions. Entitled ‘Water, Water, Everywhere?’, the report makes recommendations for the industry and government, to provide efficiency and affordability solutions for consumers and mitigation of the effects of climate change. Recognising the intrinsic link between water and energy consumption, the report advocates action by government, water companies, property developers, housing providers and consumers towards the goal of long-term sustainability.

The report has been sponsored by eaga (an energy and water services organisation) and will be launched on Wednesday 29th April at the House of Commons.

Hosted by Elliot Morley MP, the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Water Group, speakers at the event include:

* Huw Irranca-Davies MP (Water Minister); * Ted Cantle CBE (Chairman of Sustainability First); * John Hobson (Trustee of Sustainability First and co-author of ‘Water, Water, Everywhere?’); and * Mitesh Dhanak (Associate Director, eaga).

Mitesh Dhanak, Associate Director at eaga said, "We are delighted to sponsor ‘Water, Water, Everywhere?’ as the aims fit succinctly with eaga’s core principle of delivering sustainable living – but ensuring the most vulnerable households share in the benefits and are not burdened by rising costs."

"Water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource throughout the world and supplies are finite. As the world’s population increases, the individual’s share of water decreases thus leading to the need for action.

"The study is launched at an important time for the water industry with PR09, The Walker Review on Price Charging due for publication this year and also the recently released Cave Review on Competition and Innovation. In support of these events, the key to the recommendations of ‘Water, Water, Everywhere?’ is the fact that they are all realistic and achievable."

John Hobson, co-author of the report, said "We support the Environment Agency’s call for all households to have water meters, along with the Cave Review’s recommendation for an innovation duty on Ofwat, but these must go hand in hand with an effective national programme funded by Government and the industry to install water saving measures and pilots for smart meters to test innovative tariff structures and joint monitoring of energy, carbon and water use. Such a joined up programme of action will be essential to ensure affordability for consumers, particularly those on low incomes and to deliver real environmental benefits. Above all we need to raise public awareness of the urgency for our future of more efficient water use."