Review of Water Efficiency Standards in the Building Regulations 2010

Overview

The government is committed to creating environmental headroom for growth. ​​​A failure to implement water demand management measures in response to water scarcity could result in over 61,000 houses not being built costing the economy £25 billion this parliamentary term. Increasing the water efficiency of housing offers opportunities to reduce the risk of planning constraints on new developments due to water scarcity risks.  

As well as enabling homes to be water efficient as part of the statutory Water Demand Target. The target is underpinned by a commitment to lower water usage in homes, to achieve a usage of at least 122 litres per person per day (l/p/d) by 2038, on a trajectory to 110 l/p/d by 2050.   

Defra is working with MHCLG to explore whether the Building Regulations 2010 could be amended to tighten water efficiency standards and enable consumers to use less water and save on their water and energy bills. In February 2024 we commissioned independent research to investigate what needs to be in place to enable tighter water efficiency standards, and conducted a series of stakeholder engagement sessions with a core group of Developers, Water Companies, University Experts and Regulators; which helped to shape this review.

This public consultation includes an option to revise the minimum Water Efficiency Standard in new houses through fittings from 125 l/p/d to 105 l/p/d, and the optional technical standard from 110 l/p/d to 100 l/p/d. It includes a call for evidence on water reuse systems in new developments, to enable even greater water efficiency. 

Why your views matter

This Government is keen to hear your views to help shape this review of Water Efficiency Standards in the Building Regulations 2010. We are consulting on proposals to tighten the Water Efficiency Standards to ensure that new housing developments are built to be more water efficient.

This consultation is open to the public, and in particular we invite responses from anyone with an interest in housing development and water efficiency. By participating, you can help to ensure that this review is well-informed, relevant, and effective. 

What happens next

This consultation is being conducted in line with the Cabinet Office ‘Consultation Principles’. If you have any comments or complaints about the consultation process, please address them by email to: consultation.coordinator@defra.gov.uk or by post to the Consultation Coordinator (as above).   

Confidentiality and data protection information    

A summary of responses to this consultation will be published on the government website but will not include personal names, addresses or other contact details. An annex to the consultation summary will list all organisations that responded. Defra may also publish some or all of the content of your response to this consultation.    

There may be occasions when Defra will share the information you provide in response to the consultation, including any personal data with external analysts. This is for the purposes of consultation response analysis and provision of a report of the summary of responses only. Please find our latest privacy notice on Citizen Space for further details.   

Water efficiency is a policy area where decision making is devolved to the devolved nations (Scottish Parliament, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Assembly).