THOUSANDS of homes in the South East may be forced to have a water meter within the next five years in an effort to cut usage and secure future supplies.

The Government is likely to give the go-ahead for compulsory water meters in 20,000 homes in the Folkestone and Dover areas in the new year, opening the way for the widespread introduction of meters in London and the Home Counties.

Meters may be combined with higher charges for the use of water in swimming pools, hot tubs and excessive use in gardens. Paying more for running water at peak times is also under discussion.

New “smart” meters, which show how much water is consumed every time a power shower is run or a washing machine used, are also an option to help consumers to cut down on water.

The South East already has the highest consumption of water in the country: the average daily British water consumption is 154 litres per person, but in Sutton and East Surrey the average is 185 litres, and in the South East Water company area it is about 175 litres.

The biggest water companies, Thames Water, with five million households, and Southern, with 1.7 million, are now waiting to see if the Folkestone and Dover water company is granted a request for the area to be designated “water scarce”. This status gives the company the right to insist on the installation of meters.

Ministers accept that water conservation should be treated as a priority and an industry task force has been set up to devise a campaign to persuade households to cut down on water use.

The prospect of compulsory metering was raised yesterday by Dame Yve Buckland, chairman of the Consumer Council for Water. She said: “The continual rises in pubic demand for water, coupled with a planned housing boom and tighter control of water being taken from the environment are putting water resources under strain.

“In the South East there is a water shortage double whammy: high levels of demand and development coupled with limited supplies. Levels of demand must be managed, and the use of water meters expanded if the water industry is to maintain water on tap in the region.”

Giving evidence to a new inquiry into water management by a House of Lords select committee she made clear, however, that low-income households must not suffer from compulsory metering.

There are fears that meters will force poorer families to save cash by using less water increasing possible hygiene and health problems.

Dame Yve insisted, however, that low-income households should be helped through tax credits and the benefits system.

It costs about £43 for a metered water bill, but the total is cheaper: an average £248 a year compared with £289 for a water bill calculated on the basis of the rateable value of a house.

A couple living in a large house, for example, are likely to have much cheaper bills opting to pay by meter than by a bill based on the size and location of their property.

New homes must have water meters and companies are also encouraging installation when homes change hands. Only 26 per cent of British homes have a meter and the target from Ofwat, the industry regulator, is only 36 per cent by 2010.

Dame Yve said that as well as cutting water use the country had to find new sources of supply to meet future needs such as investment in desalination plants. Thames Water is planning for one such plant to be sited in Oxfordshire.

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