Another mayoral good idea

The Evening Standard reports Boris Johnson, London Mayor, as calling for every home to have a water meter installed - at the moment it is voluntary.

Behind his call is the belief that climate changes and a larger population could lead to water shortages.

Some of his proposals are probably already practiced by those with environmental concern:
-turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, (which will save six litres every minute.)
-take shorter showers (nine litres a minute)
- put a solid object in your cistern to replace water per flush
-use your washing machine only fully loaded (save 35 litres per each unnecessary load)
- use a washing up bowl rather than a running tap (nine litres per minute)

It is the proposal to install meters (in all houses by 2015 and flats by 2020) which could have the greatest impact. At the moment about 23% of homes have a meter, so many more could have one.

As non-metered water is paid for by a fixed charge, additional units effectively have a zero extra cost. That is, they are free! It is perfectly logical for anyone to use water to the point where any additional units would produce no benefit to them. There is no incentive to save - leave a dripping tap for months, take long showers, leave the lawn sprinkler on all day.....

Boris Johnson, and others are speaking good sense. Compulsory metering cannot be delayed much longer! People should learn the true cost of water, especially if it becomes scarce, and act appropriately.