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Originally Posted by Chris

Metering domestic water isn't a good thing because it turns what ought to be a basic human right into a commodity and puts pressure on poor families to use less than they need. As a society we no longer sink wells or draw from streams, and we live for the most part in urban or suburban settings as that permits the efficient functioning of our economy. Piped water is a therefore a basic necessity for the health of the population and ought to be available on an ability to pay basis (as it more-or-less is in Scotland, with water payment aligned with council tax bands).

Water waste is possibly the most pernicious lie in all public discourse. Leakage from poorly maintained infrastructure is the only serious source of water wastage in this country. Turning the tap off after you wet your toothbrush might be the right thing to do on a point of principle but let's not kid ourselves that anything anybody can do within their own home is going to make the same difference as sorting out the THREE BILLION litres of water lost from the distribution pipes EVERY SINGLE DAY in England and Wales. (Scotland manages to lose around 460 million litres a day, so is relatively slightly worse than England on a per capita basis, although per mile of pipe would be a fairer comparison and I have no idea how to find that information).

Totally agree that mains leakage dwarfs savings made individual but that saving should still be made. Also it means that smaller households pay less than larger and that is fair. Why should the bill be made on rateable value and not water usage? A house with garden and lost of people would pay more than an expensive flat with one occupant.