Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Water White Paper, January 2026, p.42, what the incentives are that his department and Ofwat intend to introduce for homes to adopt water efficiency, and whether this will include changes to water tariffs for households.

The Government is considering a range of incentives to encourage homes to adopt water efficiency. This includes enabling innovative tariff options through a rollout of 10.4 million smart meters in the next five years. This will also provide customers with improved data and communications on how water efficient technology and fixing leaks can reduce their water and energy bills to incentivise efficiency.

Ofwat also offer a range of water efficiency incentives for developers to encourage water efficiency in new homes. Government is also committed to tightening water efficiency standards in the Building Regulations, following our recent consultation, and introducing water efficiency labelling on water using products to support this.