Claims made over 'water rationing' (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Claims made over 'water rationing'

9:18am Thursday 4th March 2010

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A NEW “water-rationing scheme” for north Hampshire is being introduced because the Government plans to build thousands of homes, it has been claimed.

Buckskin borough councillor Stephen Reid is criticising plans by Southern Water to charge more in the summer to customers with water meters.

The company says the move is necessary because of an ever-increasing population and the effects of global warming.

But Cllr Reid, who chairs Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s planning and infrastructure committee, said: “It's no coincidence that water rationing by price is starting in Hampshire. This is one of the counties that the Government wants to overload with new properties.”

Cllr Reid, who also represents Basingstoke North West on Hampshire County Council, said Government plans to build almost 1,000 homes a year in the borough would only make the water problems worse.

Southern Water, which supplies water in Hampshire, said the new tariff will run from June to September inclusive. Customers will pay five per cent more than the current standard rate and the rest of the year two per cent less than the standard rate.

The company said most people would end up paying about the same amount over the whole year. The new charges will come into force in June.

There are currently more than 100,000 customers in Hampshire with water metres. But from June, the company will start a five-year campaign to get about 180,000 more customers to use meters. This includes 20,000 homes in north Hampshire.

Southern Water metering director Darren Bentham said: “The seasonal tariff aims to discourage non-essential use in the summer months when our water resources come under the greatest stress.”

The Environment Agency supports seasonal tariffs because it claims individual water use in the South East needs to tumble from 156 litres of water per day to 130 litres by 2030.

Forecasts suggest some river flows could fall by 35 per cent by 2050 because of population growth and climate change.

Water firm regulator Ofwat also backs the seasonal scheme but said it should not be used to raise extra revenue.

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