State of the South West 2008

River flows and groundwater levels are affected by natural conditions, such as rainfall, as well as human activities such as abstraction and land use. Although total abstractions have fluctuated year on year in the Environment Agency's South West region, there has been a general decline of 16% between 1995 and 2004 (from 6,629 to 5,547 ml/day).  This goes against the national trend, which shows an increase of 5% during the same period (Environment Agency, 2006).

Although the demand for water for industrial and commercial uses is reducing, water demand overall is increasing as the region’s population grows and more, smaller households are formed. The South West Regional Spatial Strategy analyses how alternative growth scenarios will affect future demand for water. Demand in the region has remained fairly stable since 2000 but is predicted to increase by around 5% over the next 20 years (Environment Agency, 2005).

Water consumption used by each individual at home (known as household per capita consumption) has been steadily increasing in the South West. The average person in the region consumed 150 litres/head/day (l/h/d) in 2006/2007 in comparison to almost 155 l/h/d in 2004/2005 and 146 l/h/d in 2000/2001 (Ofwat, 2007).

Around 34% of households in the South West region had a water meter in 2006/2007.  South West Water customers were the most likely to have a water meter fitted, with just under 59%.  This was closely followed by those households supplied by Bournemouth and West Hampshire (50%).  Bristol Water had the lowest percentage of properties fitted with meters with just under 31%. (Ofwat, 2007).

South West households without water meters used an average of 156 l/h/d of water during 2006/2007, slightly lower than the national average of just under 158 l/h/d. In households with water meters, however, water consumption reduced to almost 136 l/h/d in the region, although this was  just over the national average of just under 135 l/h/d. (Ofwat, 2007).

More information about water resources is available from the South West Observatory Environment website.  Water quality is also an indicator used to monitor progress of the Regional Environment Strategy.