The South East of England Regional Assembly last week asked the Government to push towards forcing every household to have a water meter, saying it would save water and money. But some are worried it could put people in danger.

Rachel Pegg heard both sides of the argument.

YES

Norman Baker has long campaigned for water meters in every home. The MP for Lewes and former Liberal Democrat environment spokesman believes it is the only way to cut water use with a long-term strategy that should keep prices down and reduce the need for water restrictions and expensive infrastructure.

He argues that special deals for people on benefits or with medical conditions would ensure people with the greatest need do not suffer, while deterring those who waste vast amounts of water.

Mr Baker said: "In the South East in particular we have got a water shortage. We now have less water per head of the population than in the Sudan. We have continual hosepipe bans and water restrictions, which are going to get worse and worse with water use on the increase and climate change.

"As a community, we are going to end up with less water, with a need to spend on infrastructure and reservoirs, which is going to put water prices up. The consequences of shortages are increases in price.

The alternative is water metering."

But, he said, metering was only part of the solution to the increasing crisis.

He said: "I am not suggesting meters are the only thing that should be done. They should be part of a package."

That package would include educating the public about wasting water, writing building regulations that decrease water use, doing more to encourage water companies to reduce leakage and getting firms to provide "hippo bags" and tips about saving water.

Mr Baker said: "In the Isle of Wight a few years ago the whole island was metered and a saving of ten per cent was achieved. That makes a big difference.

"No one would suggest these days you should pay for electricity or gas on a flat tariff. People do worry about that. They do switch lights off and turn the heat off. I want the same to apply to water, which is a valuable and scarce resource now.

"It doesn't make sense to charge someone who leaves the tap on all day the same as someone who hasn't used any water that day.

"The way we charge at the moment is a nonsensical system.

Some people have meters installed.

Most people haven't. For those who haven't, the bill is based on the hypothetical amount that could be received from renting out the property in 1973. That is an absurd way to charge for water. That needs to be sorted out.

"Some people will say it is unfair, you will penalise people with medical needs or people with big families but it is perfectly possible to construct a system that doesn't do that. It could start low and rise quite steeply so people filling swimming pools pay a lot more.

"There are ways to help people with water needs at the moment.

They work very well using the benefit system.

"Metering will keep water prices down and it will reduce the need for reservoirs and desalination off Newhaven. Therefore everyone's bill will be kept low.

"The average bill on a metered property will be lower in every part of the country apart from Portsmouth.

"I have spent a great deal of time talking to water companies. By and large they do support metering and they think it sensible. They didn't want to be the ones forcing it on people because of the public reaction.

"The Government has finally seen sense that it is going to become easier to meter. I am sure all areas with water scarcity will do it."

NO

John Hodgson, chairman of PROUD (Peacehaven Residents Opposed to Urban Development), which is opposing Southern Water's plans for a sewage plant, is a fierce opponent of compulsory water metering.

He said: "I am not a great fan of the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA). On this issue of water SEERA isn't part of the solution, it is part of the problem with its constant demands for more and more housing development in the South East.

"I think the greatest amount of pressure should be put on the water companies to repair their antiquated and leaky water system and pipes.

"The option is there for people at the moment to have a meter. It is available and it has its advantages to some people. To the majority of people I don't think it has advantages because there are people on low incomes, people with families, with children.

"There are people who have complex medical and laundry needs who need to have washing machines going quite frequently. It is going to be a major problem for them.

"I don't think one size fits all' is the answer. There is not enough emphasis on conservation and waterefficient machinery.

"I think this is tackling it at the wrong end. We have had a lull recently with the water but if this weather we're having continues, we are going to be back to the same problem. If you had every household with a meter, people say demand would drop by ten per cent.

"If you go on building houses, you are going to have to say to people, you have to drop another ten per cent."

In opposition, the Labour Party opposed compulsory water metering and Frank Dobson MP drew attention in the Commons to a report by the British Medical Association that warned that water metering could cause people to cut down on standards of personal and family hygiene.

It could particularly hit those who are incontinent, suffer from psoriasis or eczema and other conditions or who have babies and children.

The Save The Children Fund also warned that families on low incomes were put in danger by water meters because they would try to save water by washing less, not flushing the toilet and banning children from playing with water.

Mr Hodgson said: "Water is a public health service and I wouldn't want to have any situation where, because of price, people were worried about the use of water for sanitary arrangements or washing machines.

It is an attractive quick fix but I don't think it is a long-term solution."

He added he was surprised water companies had lifted the hosepipe ban, when they should have kept it to set an example.

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