New builds cut water usage by 8.5bn litres

New-build homes cut water usage by 8.5 billion litres a year according to new research from the Home Builders Federation (HBF).

The ‘Wat-er Save’ report released by HBF examines the increasing water efficiency of the homes now being built in England and Wales.

The report shows last year’s new-builds helped save more than 3,300 Olympic-sized swimming pools (8.5 billion litres).

It found that the average new-build household uses 96,000 litres of water per year, compared to 130,000 litres used by occupants of existing properties.

This is due to efficiency measures integrated in their design, resulting in an average of 110 litres used per person per day (LPPPD), compared to the typical 150 LPPPD used in older homes.

Common water-saving features include:

• Low flow shower heads and taps
• Dual-flush toilets
• Modern appliances that require less water

The research shows that new-build homes have collectively saved more than 42 billion litres of water in the last five years.

Homeowners also save 27 per cent on their average water bill compared to those living in older properties according to the HBF report.

According to the water regulator, Ofwat, population growth is directly contributing to the increased scarcity of and demand for water.

In March, the Environment Agency argued additional demands on the water supply from new housing developments in parts of the country are putting significant pressure on water resources.   

The agency suggested that in order to support a growing population, the economy, food production and protect the environment the UK needs almost 5 billion litres more water a day.

This comes as deputy prime minister Angela Rayner unveiled new mandatory housing targets for all councils in England to meet Labour’s targeted 1.5 million homes. 

Under Labour, the new mandatory housebuilding target would rise to 370,000 a year from 300,000.

The government also aims to reduce the use of public water supply in England per head of population by 20 per cent by 2037.

Neil Jefferson, chief executive of HBF, said: “We remain committed to working with Government to go further, delivering more desperately needed homes while also driving sustainability improvements. 

“As developers continue to invest in increasingly water-efficient homes, we need Government to put in place clear guidelines and transitional arrangements and ensure water companies are investing in infrastructure to avoid complications and delays in housing delivery.”

Stephanie Fox, head of water efficiency engagement at Waterwise, said: “If we want to grow the economy, tackling water scarcity must be made a priority across all organisations. 

“Our UK Water Efficiency Strategy to 2030 calls for all new developments to be much more water-efficient, which is vital to achieving the UK’s environmental ambitions and will help save homeowners money.”

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