A new economic analysis found that water inefficiency in the home could cost households more than £300/yr ($384.8/yr) in the UK, as water companies propose average bill increases of 49% after inflation by 2029-30.
A recent survey conducted by Cebr economics consultancy on behalf of Kingfisher reveals significant concerns among UK adults regarding impending increases in water bills. According to the survey of 3,000 respondents, 72% of Brits are anxious about these rising costs, while 41% feel they lack sufficient information on water-saving strategies.
Despite expecting an average increase of just 16%, considerably lower than what many water companies propose, 61% of those surveyed indicated that higher bills would lead them to reduce their water usage. Additionally, 81% emphasised the increasing importance of saving water.
However, the survey also exposed gaps in awareness among respondents with 19% admitting they rarely or never think about their water usage, 16% having little to no idea about their current water bill amount, and 24% only have a vague understanding. Also, more than a quarter (26%) are uncertain whether their homes have water meters, highlighting a lack of basic knowledge about their water consumption practices.
Kingfisher’s survey also found that Brits continue to significantly underestimate their water usage. Those who guessed a figure believe they use an average of 49 litres per day, compared to the reality of 140 litres, while 57% said they weren’t sure how much water they used.
Thierry Garnier, Kingfisher CEO, said, “Despite recent high rainfall in the UK, our research last year found that many parts of the country could face water stress over the coming years. Avoiding water waste isn’t just the right thing to do from an environmental point of view, it’s also a way to save increasingly significant sums of money. By making simple changes in the home and being more conscious about how we all use water, it’s possible to offset the impact of coming bill rises and safeguard this essential resource for the future.”