In the UK we are complacent about our water. Our water is cheaper than in many countries and only 22% of domestic properties are metered. It is a tradition for our European neighbours to mock us for our wet summers. Yet in fact the UK is classified as a country with insufficient water. With population growth and therefore the need for more housing, demand for water is rising. Madrid and Istanbul have more water available per person than London. An October 2008 report by the Environment Agency warns that Britain’s rivers, which provide 70% of our water, will drop 10 to 15% in volume within 40 years. Householders need to reduce water consumption by a third. Global warming is accepted now whether man-made or cyclical, and so we must make the best use of our precious water and prevent the situation deteriorating. 

Rainwater harvesting has a significant role to play in doing this. The Code for Sustainable Homes which came into force in May 2008 encourages the installation of rainwater harvesting. This Code assesses homes for sustainability in 9 categories, including 2 to do with water. One aims to reduce drinking quality water consumption and the other to reduce flood risk. Currently 30 to 50% of the 160 litres of water each person uses a day need not be drinking quality water. Using rainwater from our own roofs would greatly reduce consumption. Collecting rainwater also contributes towards avoiding floods. Social housing now has to meet level 3 of this Code, targeting a daily use of only 103 litres per person per day. But whether as a householder or a concerned professional, we can move ahead on our own account without waiting for official rules and regs. And whether with a 200 litre water butt to water seedlings or a 10000 litre storage tank linked to the home, we can all maximise our use of rainwater and relieve the water shortage in this country.