During the next five years, Southern Water is installing more than 500,000 water meters across the South East as part of the company’s long-term plans to secure water resources for customers in the region. About three quarters of the water supplied to homes in Medway comes from underground aquifers. The remainder comes from water pumped from the River Medway to Southern Water’s storage reservoir at Bewl, near Lamberhurst.

Metering in the Medway area will save about four million litres of water each year – that is enough to supply another 28,000 people living in the Medway area. The amount of water saved from metering, on-going efforts to tackle leakage and the planned asset maintenance work, together, is enough to make up the present water deficit in Medway and meet projected demand over the next 25 years. By saving water, people will also save energy as heating water for use in taps, baths and showers makes up around 30% of the average household’s energy bills – that’s about £200 a year.

Darren Bentham, Director of Metering at Southern Water, said: “Water metering is an important part of our plans to manage water resources across the South East, alongside tackling leakage and developing new water resources. “We also believe households paying for the water they use is the fairest way to charge and puts people in charge of their bills. We are giving customers lots of information and advice on ways they can save water, save energy and save water as we install water meters.”

There are many simple ways in which customers can save water in the home and garden. To find out how much water you use in your home log on to www.southernwater.co.uk/metering and click on the “Saving at home” tool to find lots of useful tips on saving water.