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GREENS WELCOME ATTENTION ON WATER CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING |
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 27th June 2008
At Full Council on 26th June Greens welcomed a motion raising awareness
about the need for more action on water conservation and recycling but
didn't vote in favour of the specific measure calling for Rainwater
Harvesting at Ebley Mill.
Cllr Philip Booth, commenting on the motion, said: "I support the sentiments of this motion and also give it a huge welcome as it raises the issue of water conservation: a priority area that the Council admits it has failed to properly address. However while I'd like to see more local Rainwater Harvesting schemes this not the best first choice for an existing building. In terms of sustainability the first measures for investment we should consider are water conservation like cistern dams, leak detectors and tap regulators, then simple rain water harvesting like water butts, then advanced rainwater harvesting then greywater recycling."
Philip Booth said: "Demand for water is rising and climate change means we need to take action on these issues. However the good news is that if we act now we can also save money. Leicester for example saved £121,000 and cut water consumption by 43% over 10 years by a whole host of measures. We need a strategy that puts water conservation at it's heart then we can develop other measures like Rainwater Harvesting - leading by example of what needs to be done first rather than leading people astray. A similar example is people rushing to put solar PV panels on their roof when they haven't first got the energy conservation measures like insulation sorted."
Philip Booth added: "It would be great if the Council strategy also looked at best practice in other Councils. West Sussex Council, for example, have held a summit for water companies challenging them about their role and put on a Water Festival that led to a massive increase in water butt requests. While Woking Borough provide quality information about Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting to people making planning applications. This would be a positive way to help people save energy, water and money and promote this crucial issue in the District."
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