FoE calls for re-think

The call follows today's report by a House of Lords committee which criticizes the Government for failing to consider the water management implications of their house-building plans at an early enough stage, saying "their belated estimates of the growth in demand are wholly unconvincing."

Friends of the Earth water campaigner Roger Higman said:

"Many parts of the South East and East of England are already facing water shortages. Building hundreds of thousands of new homes, with poor water-efficiency standards, is likely to make the situation even worse. The Government must urgently review its house building plans and bring in mandatory rules to ensure that new homes are built to the highest environmental standards."

Friends of the Earth is calling for:

. An urgent review of plans to build hundreds of thousands of new homes in the South East and East of England. There must be an independent assessment of the environmental impacts of building new homes.

. Tough mandatory rules to ensure that new homes are built to the highest environmental standards. This must include the highest energy-efficiency and water-efficiency standards.

. Greater efforts from Government and water companies to ensure that existing homes are more water efficient;

. A reduction in the amount of water lost through leakages in water company pipes.

. Tougher government action on climate change. Climate change is likely to make the problem of water shortages even greater. Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to back a new law for mandatory annual reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, as part of The Big Ask climate campaign. See www.thebigask.com