12/10/05
A MORI poll conducted jointly by Water UK and waterwise shows that customers have responded positively to drought warnings.
The vast majority of customers are complying with the restrictions and almost 90% are going even further and are trying to reduce consumption in the home as well as the garden.
MORI surveyed water customers in hosepipe ban areas in Southern England:
* 84% support the use of hosepipe bans (11% neutral)
* 96% said that they make an effort to comply when restrictions are in place.
* 89% said that they would also take other action to conserve water.
Water UK welcomes these findings.
The UK has less water per person than any other European country and demand is rising. Improved water efficiency has a major part to play in ensuring that we have enough water to meet the needs of a thriving economy and healthy environment.
The survey also shows that water companies have been successful in communicating with their customers about the need for the restrictions following 10 months of below average rainfall.
MORI survey (PowerPoint)
Ends
For more information please contact:
Barrie Clarke, Director of Communication
020 7344 1804 (out of hours pager 07623 961573)
Notes
1 The survey was conducted over the telephone between 7 and 14th September 2005 with a statistically representative sample of 504 residents in areas with hosepipe restrictions.
2 waterwise is a UK non-government organisation funded by the water industry to make the economic case for large scale reductions in overall demand for water and consumption per person by 2010.
