The Labour Party has been urged to implement a pay-per-litre charge on domestic garden watering to tackle rising water scarcity. Julia Elizabeth King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge and a climate change adviser to Labour, argues that households with large gardens should face significantly higher costs for watering to encourage conservation.
Baroness Brown, who leads the climate change committee’s work on climate adaptation, told the House of Lords environment and climate change select committee that this targeted pricing strategy could help reduce water use without unfairly impacting low-income families. She pointed out that English public awareness of drought risk is low, partly due to the perception that being an island surrounded by water reduces the threat.
She highlighted how Mediterranean countries manage with much lower water consumption, often between 80 and 100 litres per person per day. Brown proposed “block pricing,” where the cost per litre increases sharply once usage exceeds a set threshold, as an effective deterrent against excessive watering.
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The Environment Agency has warned that coming dry spells could intensify if the winter fails to bring sufficient rainfall. Met Office chief meteorologist Will Lang stated that although forecasts for the next three months remain uncertain, the likelihood of dry conditions is above average.
Helen Wakeham, director for Water at the Environment Agency, emphasized the importance of continued water efficiency efforts from households. She noted, “Our wildlife, rivers, and public water supplies all depend on careful use. The public has done well to reduce consumption and adhere to restrictions during the dry summer, but vigilance remains essential.”