Money down the drain?

Well, the G20 was predictable. Anyway, I'm not going to dwell on missed opportunities and instead, I'd like to come back to what's fast becoming a favourite topic of mine.

Last week, I spoke a little about the responsibilities facing us all as consumers. Well, it's popped up again in a slightly different form - the Environment Agency has now said that water meters should be installed in virtually every home across the UK to reduce use and prevent shortages brought on by climate change.

But how come? A new report by the EA, titled Water Resources Strategy for England and Wales, has worryingly revealed that 25m UK residents - primarily in the south east - already live in areas where there is less available water per person than Spain or Morocco.

What's more, it predicts this scenario will worsen over the next 40 years, with climate change shrinking river and demand rising due to an ever-increasing population.

As Dr Paul Leinster, the EA's chief executive, says, it's clear that 'people and businesses need to use less water and wasting water needs to cost a lot more,' adding that its proposals call for water companies, government, regulators, businesses and the public to take a 'joined up approach to this problem to prevent it becoming a crisis.'

I'm a clear advocate of the 'joined up approach', but unfortunately I've yet to see it in action. That's why it comes down to us again to live up to our part of the deal - maybe then, the others will have no choice but to follow suit. And as decreasing water consumption is one of the easiest and most cost-effective steps you can take, there's really no excuse.