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A water strategy for Milton Keynes · his report for a sp MK:Smart r Milton Keynes ments ment report and any liability for any erson, including rson, including ecific purpose, MK:Smart

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July 2016MAS1216-RT002-R03-00

MK:SmartA Water strategy for Milton Keynes

MAS1216-RT002

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MK:Smart

A water strategy for Milton Keynes

MAS1216-RT002-R03-00

Executive summary This document outlines five principles of sustainable water use and the measures and approaches that may help Milton Keynes to grow as a smart city. It also summarises the findings from the other activities completed as part of the MK:Smart Water work package.

The MK:Smart Water work package looked at the future of water for Milton Keynes - specifically at how to use less water now, so that there is enough water in the future. The overall aim of the Water work package was to improve understanding of water supply and demand in Milton Keynes and to communicate the benefits of sustainable water use to households and businesses.

The five main principles to encourage water efficiency and support the sustainable growth of Milton Keynes outlined in this document are:

Understanding water use: help people understand how much water they use;

Water-efficient behaviour: promote water-efficient behaviour;

Water-efficient technology: implement and encourage the use of water-efficient technology where possible;

Metering and leakage: increase metering and reduce leakage across Milton Keynes;

The wider environment: improve awareness of how water use affects the wider environment.

The other activities in the Water work package are: Water Monitor, Garden Monitor, and the provision of water efficiency kits to schools in Milton Keynes. The Water Monitor website was designed to provide users with accessible and easy-to-use information about their water consumption, and was trialled by more than 100 participants in the Broughton and Broughton Gate areas of Milton Keynes. Garden Monitor is an app that tells you when you should water your garden. It was successfully tested by eight households in Milton Keynes. The school kits were provided to three schools in Milton Keynes to help children learn about how they can reduce the amount of water they use and why this is important.

This document is intended to be of benefit to those organisations and individuals interested in improving the environment or those involved in community work in and around Milton Keynes. The suggestions put forward are an outcome from the learning on the MK:Smart project. MK:Smart was carried out between 2014 and 2017. It developed smart solutions to support sustainable growth in Milton Keynes based on the analysis of big data in the “MK Data Hub”, which draws together data from a variety of sources across the city.

MK:Smart

A water strategy for Milton Keynes

MAS1216-RT002-R03-00

Acknowledgements MK:Smart was a large collaborative project, partly funded by HEFCE (the Higher Education Funding Council for England) and led by The Open University based in Milton Keynes.

HR Wallingford worked together with Anglian Water, Milton Keynes Council, The Open University, Community Action: MK and BT on the MK:Smart Water work package, and would like to thank these organisations for their contributions to this document.

MK:Smart

A water strategy for Milton Keynes

MAS1216-RT002-R03-00

Contents

Executive summary

1. Introduction _________________________________________________________ 1

2. Principles of sustainable water use _______________________________________ 3 2.1. Understanding water use .................................................................................................................. 4 2.2. Water-efficient behaviour .................................................................................................................. 6 2.3. Water-efficient technology ................................................................................................................. 9 2.4. Metering and leakage ...................................................................................................................... 12 2.5. The wider environment .................................................................................................................... 15

3. Water Monitor and Garden Monitor ______________________________________ 17 3.1. Water Monitor .................................................................................................................................. 17

3.1.1. About Water Monitor .......................................................................................................... 17 3.1.2. The Water Monitor trial ...................................................................................................... 18 3.1.3. Results of the Water Monitor trial ...................................................................................... 19

3.2. Garden Monitor ............................................................................................................................... 21

4. Conclusion _________________________________________________________ 22

5. References ________________________________________________________ 24

Figures Figure 2.1: Principles of sustainable water use .......................................................................................... 3 Figure 2.2: Water use of household activities ............................................................................................. 4 Figure 2.3: Tips to reduce water use around the home and garden........................................................... 7 Figure 2.4: Some examples of water-efficient devices available for indoor and outdoor use .................... 9 Figure 3.1: Water Monitor user profile page ............................................................................................. 18 Figure 3.2: Weekly water use for all properties involved in the Water Monitor visual meter reading trial ..................................................................................................................................... 20

Tables Table 3.1: Water use behaviour change of questionnaire respondents ................................................... 21

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A water strategy for Milton Keynes

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1. Introduction This document outlines five principles of sustainable water use and the measures and approaches that may help Milton Keynes to grow as a smart city. It also summarises the findings from the other activities completed as part of the MK:Smart Water work package.

The MK:Smart Water work package looked at the future of water for Milton Keynes - specifically at how to use less water now, so that there is enough water in the future. The overall aim of the Water work package was to improve understanding of water supply and demand in Milton Keynes and to communicate the benefits of sustainable water use to households and businesses.

Milton Keynes is in one of the driest regions of the UK. The Anglian region gets on average just 600mm of rain a year, which is a third less than the rest of England. With the significant growth expected in the city over the next few years, it is essential that the water supplies of Milton Keynes are managed carefully.

Besides production of this document, the Water work package included the following activities:

Water Monitor, a website designed to provide users with accessible and easy-to-use information about their water consumption. More than 100 participants in the Broughton and Broughton Gate areas of Milton Keynes took part in a trial to monitor their weekly water use and establish the effectiveness of Water Monitor. Later on in the trial, new wireless technology known as LoRa was installed on selected water meters, enabling participants to view their daily and, in some cases, sub-daily water use.

Garden Monitor, which is an app that tells you when you should water your garden. It works by using sensors to measure the amount of moisture in the soil, and it also checks the weather forecast, finding out whether any rain is expected and how warm it might be. The technology used in Garden Monitor was successfully tested by eight households in Milton Keynes.

School kits, which were provided to three schools in Milton Keynes to help children learn about how they can reduce the amount of water they use and why this is important. The kits included a water meter, a hand held reader, and lesson plans on water efficiency.

This document is intended to be of benefit to those organisations and individuals interested in improving the environment or those involved in community work in and around Milton Keynes. The suggestions put forward are an outcome from the learning on the MK:Smart project. MK:Smart was carried out between 2014 and 2017. It developed smart solutions to support sustainable growth in the city based on the analysis of big data in the “MK Data Hub”, which draws together data from a variety of sources across the city.

Anglian Water provides Milton Keynes with its water supply. This document has been written to support Anglian Water’s existing initiatives for the region to which it supplies water. It is consistent with Anglian Water’s plans and strategies, including Love Every Drop1, which aims to increase customer awareness about the value of water in the region; Anglian Water’s Water Resources Management Plan 2015, which shows how the company will maintain the supply-demand balance over the next 25 years; and the Strategic Direction Statement, which sets out the company’s strategy for the next 25 years, to ensure it can continue

1 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/about-us/love-every-drop.aspx

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to supply reliable water and wastewater services. It also highlights where water efficiency measures can be set up in collaboration with initiatives such as Anglian Water’s Bits and Bobs scheme2.

The Milton Keynes study area considered in this document covers three neighbouring Anglian Water planning zones: Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell and Woburn. These planning zones fall within the Ruthamford South water resource zone.

Ruthamford South is considered one of the zones in the Anglian region that will become the most water stressed in the future, as a result of climate change as well as housing growth (see Box 1.1). To avoid deficits, Anglian Water is implementing an extensive demand management programme alongside measures to increase supply. The programme includes water efficiency, leakage reduction and enhanced metering.

Box 1.1: Ruthamford South water resource zone

The most recent climate change impact analysis for the UK Water Sector presented results for the UK at a water resource zone scale using the UKCP09 probabilistic climate projections3. The analysis shows that for 2012, the baseline year, the Ruthamford South water resource zone had:

A population of 778,000;

A total household consumption of 110 Ml/d and a total non-household consumption of 36 Ml/d;

A supply-demand balance4 surplus of 16 Ml/d.

It is projected, with a medium level of confidence, that by the 2030s:5

The population in the zone will have increased by 24%;

Deployable Output6 will decrease by 2%, or 6 Ml/d, under the medium emissions scenario;

There will be a supply-demand deficit of 12 Ml/d under the medium emissions scenario.

These projections do not consider any adaptation. By the 2050s, for a high population and high emissions scenario, and with no adaptation, the supply-demand deficit is projected to be 60 Ml/d. When considering this same scenario, but with adaptation options (implementation of demand measures, reduced household consumption, and measures to address leakage), the deficit is only 2 Ml/d. However, there is a low level of confidence in the assessment with respect to the estimates that consider adaptation options.

This document first outlines the five principles of sustainable water use and the measures and approaches that may help Milton Keynes to grow as a smart city. It then summarises the work and findings from Water Monitor and Garden Monitor.

2 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/environment/how-you-can-help/using-water-wisely/we-products/ 3 Counsell et al. (2015). Note that UKCP18 climate projections are due to be released in 2018. 4 The difference between water available for use for supply and demand. 5 Assumes that population growth will follow the Office for National Statistics’ principal population scenario. 6 The amount of water that can be pumped from a water company’s sources, constrained by licence, hydrology or

hydrogeological factors and works capacity.

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2. Principles of sustainable water use It is essential to provide expanding cities with clean and affordable water for consumption, and to do this water needs to be made smarter so that it is more efficient, safe and available7. This can be achieved by reducing waste and leakage as well as operational and energy costs and optimising water distribution.

This document outlines five main principles that will encourage and improve water efficiency and support the sustainable growth of Milton Keynes. These are given in Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1: Principles of sustainable water use

All of these principles require engagement activities to get communities involved. Such activities might include community incentives, working with businesses, appointing champions, education in schools, and providing guidelines.

Findings from the MK:Smart Fourth Citizen Lab on Sustainable Water Use

A focus group, or ‘Citizen Lab’, was held in July 2014 to investigate the priorities of Milton Keynes citizens in relation to sustainability and environment issues. The workshop was delivered by Community Action: MK as part of the Citizen Innovation work package.

The findings from this focus group have helped to inform the development of this document. Suggestions, ideas and issues from the workshop are included in green boxes throughout this section.

7 http://www.schneider-electric.com/solutions/ww/en/seg/27947930-smart-cities/27958192-smart-water

Help people understand how much water they useUnderstanding water use

Promote water-efficient behaviourWater-efficient behaviour

Implement and encourage the use of water-efficient technology where possible

Water-efficient technology

Increase metering and reduce leakage across Milton KeynesMetering and leakage

Improve awareness of how water use affects the wider environment

The wider environment

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2.1. Understanding water use Objective: to help people understand how much water they use

To get a better idea of where water can be saved, it is first useful to know how much water is used in total and for different activities. There are various ways of doing this.

Firstly Anglian Water has produced a simple table that helps a household work out its daily use. It lists how many litres each activity uses at a time, which can be multiplied by how often it is done in one day. Personal use can then be calculated by dividing the total use by the number of people in the house. Figure 2.2 shows the amount of water that some activities typically use.

Figure 2.2: Water use of household activities Source: Taken from Anglian Water (2013a)

Milton Keynes is located in the Ruthamford South water resource zone. According to Anglian Water, the majority of household use in the zone is for personal washing, followed closely by toilet flushing8.

People can also work out their household water use by using the Energy Saving Trust’s Water Energy Calculator. This not only shows how much water a household uses, but the energy and carbon emissions too (see Box 2.1).

Box 2.1: Being more water efficient saves energy too

If we want hot water, then we need to use energy to produce it. Energy is also used to treat water and wastewater and pump it around the water supply and sewerage networks.

The Energy Saving Trust’s Water Energy Calculator was launched in 20109. It can show households how

8 Anglian Water (2014a)

One flush of the toilet 6 litres

One full load in the dishwasher 10 litres

One five-minute shower 40 litres

One bath 80 litres

Watering garden for 10 minutes with a hose 150 litres

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much water and energy they use and how this affects bills. The calculator shows the costs of various activities around the house, depending on how the usage varies. It also considers the efficiency of appliances and the ways in which those appliances are used, for example, whether the kettle is filled to only what is needed, or whether the washing machine is run only with full loads.

Some of the key findings from the use of the calculator across Britain, taken from the At Home with Water analysis10, include:

In houses, showers are the biggest water user, making up 25% of total use;

The washing machine is used on average 4.7 times each week and 82% of people fill it to capacity before turning it on;

When using the kettle, 75% of households say that they boil more water than they need.

With respect to energy use, At Home with Water reports that:

On average, 16% of a household’s energy bill is from water use;

Dishwashers and washing machines use 360 billion litres of water a year, which equates to costs of £1.6 billion in electricity;

Households spend around £2.3 billion on heating water for showers;

In the UK there would be a saving of £215 million in energy bills a year if every household reduced one shower every day by one minute.

The report also states that 6% of all CO2 emissions in the UK come from water use. The vast majority of this comes from heating water in the home, with the rest a result of the pumping and treatment of water in the water supply and sewerage networks.

Energy bills and carbon emissions can be reduced by using less water. The Regional Environmental Networks for Energy and Water (RENEW) project is a three-year initiative that provided water and energy saving advice in the pilot areas of Cardiff, London and Edinburgh. Research completed for the initiative suggested that 8% of consumers were aware that water use contributes to energy bills11.

Hot water adds £228 to the average annual combined energy bill.

Energy Saving Trust - At Home with Water, 2013

Notes from the Citizen Lab Participants at the Citizen Lab identified a number of priorities to raise awareness of water use. These include: Education in schools, for example, linking water to other subjects; Introduce a Milton Keynes water mascot; Produce an MK:Smart film on the subject; Provide guidelines, for example on the length of showers;

9 http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/domestic/water-energy-calculator 10 Energy Saving Trust (2013) 11 Energy Saving Trust and Waterwise UK (2011)

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Have more community engagement at events around Milton Keynes; Make use of physical exhibition space in the city to show how household water systems work; Consider how to engage people of all ages.

Anglian Water Business (AWB) offers a range of services that its non-domestic customers can pay for to help them understand their water use12. These include ‘Find every drop’, a water management initiative to enable a business to understand where water is used across the organisation and water efficiency audits as part of ‘Drop cost’. Business customers can monitor their water use through AWB’s smart metering service13. This works by installing smart water meters across the business premises from which automatic readings are taken.

2.2. Water-efficient behaviour Objective: to promote water-efficient behaviour

It’s essential to provide advice on how to be more water efficient and raise awareness of the benefits. While the financial incentives for water efficiency around the home can be weak, there are many other benefits that can be publicised more widely. For example, being more water efficient can save energy, reduce carbon emissions, save money for those properties that are metered, and protect the natural environment. It also helps to ensure that the growth of Milton Keynes can be achieved.

One minute less in the shower would save the UK £215m on energy bills each year.

Energy Saving Trust - At Home with Water, 2013

Anglian Water’s ‘Drop 20’ campaign encourages people across the region to reduce their daily water usage by 20 litres14. It provides tips and advice on how to do this, both around the home and in the garden. Some of these tips are given in Figure 2.3. These tips are also provided on the Water Monitor website.

There are many other ways to be more water efficient15. Around the home this could be only filling the kettle and saucepans to what is needed, fixing leaky toilets, or lagging water pipes to prevent bursts in cold weather.

Notes from the Citizen Lab

One project idea from the Citizen Lab was entitled ‘Neighbourhood Wash’ or ‘Friends on Tap’. The concept is to take action on minor water issues at the community level, e.g. fixing a dripping tap, teaching basics to help with water efficiency and promoting awareness. The project would need to get communities, Anglian Water, Milton Keynes Council and relevant MK:Smart networks involved. The next steps to set it up could be to provide a website platform and information on how to get a scheme started, and establish a pilot project.

12 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/business/business-services/ 13 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/business/business-services/smart-metering.aspx 14 Anglian Water (2013a) 15 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/environment/how-you-can-help/ten-tips.aspx

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Figure 2.3: Tips to reduce water use around the home and garden Source: Based on information provided in Anglian Water (2013a)

In the garden, methods might include using drought-tolerant plants, watering plants in early morning or evening to minimise evaporation, and checking the weather forecast to see if there might be rain the next day.

Providing timely advice to customers on outdoor water use will help in the management of water in this area, particularly in periods of hot, dry weather when water use increases. The MK:Smart project has developed Garden Monitor, an app that will advise when to water the garden. More details on Garden Monitor are given in Section 3.2.

Water use in the garden was an area researched in a recent study on household practices (see Box 3.1).

Box 3.1: Using patterns of water use to target effective interventions16

Recent research investigated water use patterns in the home and garden across the south and south-east of England. It looked at different practices to increase understanding of how water use varies. The activities examined were showering and bathing, laundry, and gardening. The research provides useful findings that can inform how to design and target effective interventions, depending on the characteristics of the group. The results showed that:

Showering and bathing patterns could be grouped into clusters that varied from ‘simple daily showering’, representing 36% of the population, to ‘low frequency bathing’, representing 7% of the population. Measures that would be effective include improving the water efficiency of power showers, encouraging

16 Browne et al. (2013)

Bathroom

12 litresTurn off tap for two minutes

when brushing teeth

5 litresPut a save-a-flush device in

cistern

25 litresFill bath two-thirds full, rather than to the rim

16 litresSpend two minutes less in

the shower

Kitchen

3 litresFix a dripping tap

10 litresOnly wash full loads of

laundry

12 litresWash vegetables in a bowl rather than running the tap

for two minutes

15 litresWash dishes by hand rather

than half filling the dishwasher

Outdoors

150 litresUse a watering can for

plants instead of sprinklers

200 litresUse the water butt for

watering plants

150 litresUse a bucket and sponge to wash the car, rather than a

hose

1000s litresUse waste water from

kitchen, baths and showers to water plants

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showers of shorter duration, and targeting rented accommodation with subsidised shower installations.

Laundry clusters ranged from ‘simple home laundry’, representing 36% of the population, to ‘hand washing’, representing 6% of the population. Measures that would improve efficiency in this area include promoting technologies such as washing machines with water-efficient small load settings (particularly useful for small households), encouraging efficient use of the washing machine (running it when it is full), and targeting outsourced laundry services to make savings there.

Gardening clusters ranged from ‘nothing to water’, representing 38% of the population, to ‘amateur enthusiastic gardening’, representing 5% of the population. Possible effective measures include encouraging the installation of water butts, the use of greywater from household use to water the plants, and promoting larger rainwater harvesting or greywater reuse to groups who already use water butts or those who use a lot of water in the garden.

Anglian Water’s Potting Shed Club is aimed specifically at saving water in the garden17. Customers can get a free kit that could help reduce the frequency that the garden needs watering. The kit contains water storing crystals and mats, seed sticks, a pocket guide on drought-tolerant plants, and a leaflet on water in the garden. Further tips for saving water in the garden are provided on the RHS website18.

Anglian Water also has a gardening pack for schools, to teach children how to build a water friendly garden19. The company has a number of other services and resources available to schools to teach water efficiency. These include20:

Schools outreach, which are sessions run by Anglian Water’s Community Education Team, from foundation stage to further education.

Resources, including the Drop 20 campaign for schools which provides films, games, classroom activities and teachers’ notes on water efficiency.

School water audit pack, which helps students and teachers to reduce water use in school.

School visits to education centres at water recycling works, where wastewater is treated. Anglian Water also provides community education programmes for all ages at these centres.

Notes from the Citizen Lab

One project idea from the Citizen Lab was to hold roadshows or have a show home to educate and raise awareness on water efficiency. The project could provide information on water shortages, including comparisons with other regions and the use of local data. Exhibitions and show homes would indicate where water savings can be made. A number of organisations would need to get involved, including Anglian Water, Milton Keynes Council, Community Action:MK, schools, community groups and local businesses. To set up the project, a steering group could be established and key messages set. Research on previous roadshows would be used to get an idea of what works well.

17 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/environment/how-you-can-help/using-water-wisely/save-water-in-the-garden.aspx 18 https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/Profile?PID=396 19 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/environment/how-you-can-help/using-water-wisely/great-gardens.aspx 20 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/community/education/

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There is plenty of scope to promote industry-led initiatives. Businesses have more of a financial incentive than households to reduce the amount of water they use because most have water meters installed. Almost all of Anglian Water’s non-household customers pay for their water on the basis of how much they have used21.

AWB has also teamed up with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), a sustainable resource charity, to provide the Rippleffect to their business customers (see Box 3.2). Further tailored support is provided by AWB for customers which use more than 5000 m³ a year. More businesses in Milton Keynes should be encouraged to make use of these initiatives where they can.

Box 3.2: The Rippleffect22

The Rippleffect is an initiative run by WRAP to enable businesses to be more water efficient. The free guidance it provides helps a business to understand how much water it uses, identify the ways in which it can save water, measure the savings and find out more about water saving devices. Business customers of any size can register and start saving water, energy, carbon and money.

2.3. Water-efficient technology Objective: to implement and encourage the use of water-efficient technology where possible

Water-efficient devices

The installation of water-efficient products is an easy and often cheap way of saving water. Devices can be fitted to existing appliances, or new efficient appliances can be installed. Some examples are given in Figure 2.4.

Figure 2.4: Some examples of water-efficient devices available for indoor and outdoor use

Householders and landlords should be encouraged to consider the efficiency of their domestic appliances. There are plenty of water and energy efficient models available to purchase. The Energy Saving Trust’s At

21 Anglian Water (2014a) 22 http://www.wrap.org.uk/content/rippleffect

Indoors

• Dual flush converter• Dual flush toilet• Efficient showerhead• Shower timer• Tap inserts• Low flow taps

Outdoors

• Water butt• Drip irrigation• Sprinkler timer• Water storing crystals

and gels• Water storing mats• Hose trigger

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Home with Water analysis found that one third of people using their Water Energy Calculator did not know the efficiency rating of their washing machine23. Providing guidance on which products to choose is one way of encouraging the use of such appliances. Save Water Save Money is the UK’s largest supplier of water saving products24. Anglian Water provides a link from its website.

Notes from the Citizen Lab

An idea shared at the Citizen Lab was to use a perforated low flow rate hosepipe as a watering system for plants in tubs and pots in the garden. This provides a supply of water that is targeted at the roots of plants and will use less water than a garden sprinkler system. Hanging basket gels could also be used to further save water.

Engagement activities which would encourage the use of water-efficient devices and associated issues are25:

Raise awareness: Provide clear and easily accessible information about the use of water-efficient devices. Householders may not be aware of the products that are available or have limited knowledge of home plumbing systems and be unsure as to what they can install.

Make water-efficient design desirable to households through engagement programmes involving householders, estate agents and developers. Having a water-efficient home should be seen as a normal, must-have feature of a house and this can be achieved by highlighting the technology and design aspects of efficiency products.

In rental properties it is more difficult to fit devices because tenants may not be in a position to do so. In these situations, behavioural changes can be the main focus to save water around the home.

It’s important to ensure that there are no ‘rebound’ effects from using water-efficient devices. For example, people may decide to take longer showers if they are using a shower head that is more efficient.

As outlined in its latest Water Resources Management Plan, Anglian Water plans to complete 180,000 water efficiency audits across its supply region between 2015 and 202026. Of these, more than 31,000 audits are estimated to be carried out in Ruthamford South water resource zone. Water audits involve a visit from a water saving specialist at Anglian Water to a household in order to identify ways in which water might be saved. These audits provide customers with a personalised water saving plan, and water saving devices are also fitted where appropriate. These devices include water-efficient showerheads, tap fittings and cistern devices (see Box 4.1).

Providing training for those in the construction sector and installers of water-efficient technology is also really important. It increases knowledge and ensures the installation of devices is the best it can be. Waterwise

23 Energy Saving Trust (2013) 24 https://www.savewatersavemoney.co.uk/search?keywords=kitchen-washing-machines 25 Waterwise and UKWRIP (2014) 26 Anglian Water (2014a)

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offers courses to those who install water efficiency devices in homes or provide water efficiency advice27. Participants obtain formal qualifications in water efficiency.

Box 4.1: Bits and Bobs scheme28

Some water-efficient devices are available for free through Anglian Water’s Bits and Bobs scheme. This involves a water saving home visit by a team member from Anglian Water, who will fit the devices where possible and provide advice. The devices available include:

Dual flush converter, which reduces the flush by up to 50%;

Tap inserts, which provide a 70% water saving;

Showersave, an adapter that regulates the flow of water from the shower;

Digital shower timer;

Hosepipe gun, which saves water in the garden.

Rainwater harvesting

Rainwater harvesting systems should be encouraged where possible. A water butt is a simple but very effective way of harvesting rainwater for use in the garden. Water butts come in a range of sizes and styles to suit different needs. Anglian Water offers deals on water butts for the garden and also provides advice on how to install them29.

A water butt can collect 5000 litres of rainwater from an average size roof each year.

Anglian Water, Growing for the Future (schools resource pack)

Notes from the Citizen Lab One project idea from the Citizen Lab was to install water butts more widely in households to reduce the use of mains water in the garden. This would result in lower water bills and could also lead to the establishment of community interest groups. To get this idea up and running the next steps would be to provide the facts on how much water could be saved by using a water butt, get suppliers, the authorities and households involved, and establish a small-scale pilot. A celebrity could even be asked to endorse the project. The project may then further develop by upscaling it to businesses, or designing water butts so that they pressurise water.

It’s possible to use the water collected by a rainwater harvesting system in the house for flushing toilets or in washing machines too, if stored and treated correctly. If the water is to be used in the house, there are water quality and maintenance issues to consider and limitations as to how it can be used. The roof size of many households is also a restriction as to how much water can be collected and reused in this way.

The potential for larger properties, such as industrial units, to collect water is greater. A number of rainwater harvesting systems are already in place in large retail units in Milton Keynes and the development and publicity of these systems should continue with the growth of the city.

27 http://www.waterwise.org.uk/pages/training-and-workshops.html 28 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/environment/how-you-can-help/using-water-wisely/we-products/products.aspx 29 anglianwater.co.uk/freewater

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AWB offers advice to businesses on whether rainwater harvesting is appropriate for them, both financially and environmentally. This includes providing costs of installing a system and advising how much water it would save. AWB offers this as part of its ‘Drop cost’ and ‘Save every drop’ services for businesses. These schemes also provide advice on other measures such as water pressure management, engagement programmes and greywater recycling.

Guidance on the design of rainwater harvesting systems for domestic, commercial and industrial buildings can be found in The SuDS Manual30.

Greywater reuse

Greywater is the water that has been used in showers, baths and wash basins. A simple way of reusing greywater is to water plants in the garden. Households can save thousands of litres by doing this, so more households should be encouraged to do this where possible.

Special greywater reuse systems are expensive to install and not very common. There are also issues to consider with respect to the treatment of the water, as its quality can deteriorate when standing in a storage tank. However, new technologies are being developed, such as the water recycling shower, so this option may become more attractive in the future.

Notes from the Citizen Lab The reuse of greywater was one subject of discussion at the Citizen Lab. It was suggested that plumbing could be installed in households to direct greywater from the bath to the toilet. However, it was recognised that the initial costs of technologies are expensive, so the long-term benefits are hard to realise. There was agreement though that new builds should have compulsory reuse of greywater.

It is generally more cost effective to install greywater reuse systems in new builds rather than retrofitting them, and in commercial or industrial rather than domestic properties. To do this requires support of the planning system (see Box 4.2).

Box 4.2: Support from the planning system and working with developers Whilst efficiency can be actively promoted, it is vital to have the support of the planning system and to work with developers to ensure all new homes are constructed to the highest possible standards of efficiency.

Anglian Water plans to work with housing developers to encourage them to meet the highest water consumption standards of the building regulations31.

2.4. Metering and leakage Objective: to increase metering and reduce leakage across Milton Keynes

The information in this section has been taken from Anglian Water’s latest Water Resources Management Plan32.

30 Woods Ballard et al. (2015) http://www.ciria.org/Resources/Free_publications/SuDS_manual_C753.aspx 31 Anglian Water (2013b) 32 Anglian Water (2014a)

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Metering Metering can reduce water use, as households only want to pay for what they use and it reinforces the message to be water efficient. Installing a water meter at a property can also help to detect any leaks on the supply pipe, should there be any unusually high consumption.

The benefits of having a water meter fitted to a property should continue to be publicised. Anglian Water offers plenty of advice and information on its water metering programme and has a switchback guarantee if customers decide a meter isn’t right for them33.

In its latest Water Resources Management Plan, Anglian Water set out its plans to install more than 160,000 household meters across its supply region between 2015 and 2020. According to the plan, this amounts to a water saving of 5.6 Ml/d. Anglian Water’s strategy includes enhanced metering as well as a small number of compulsory meter installations. Of its customers, just over 80% currently have a meter fitted at their property, with 72.2% paying on the basis of how much they use. By 2020, it is expected that this will increase to 95.1% of household customers, with 88.3% paying on the basis of how much they use. Anglian Water estimates that the water saved once a property has switched to a volumetric supply will be about 50 litres per day for each property.

Milton Keynes is located in the Ruthamford South water resource zone, which is being targeted for enhanced metering. Anglian Water expects to have installed more than 20,000 meters in the zone between 2015 and 2020 as part of their metering programme, with 30,000 customers choosing to have metered billing.

According to Anglian Water (2014a), in 2012/13:

Of the 340,000 household customers in the zone, 76% paid for their water bills on the basis of measured supplies.

Measured per capita consumption was approximately equivalent to the regional average for Anglian Water, at 126 l/p/d.

Unmeasured household customers used more water than those with a water meter fitted. The per capita consumption was more than the regional average of 150 l/p/d, at 180 l/p/d.

The weighted average for household consumption is 142 l/p/d.

The target for the three planning zones that this strategy covers is 4496 new meters. By 2020, 98% of customers will have a meter, with 89% paying for the water they use via the meter.

Measured non-household demands in the three planning zones are on average:

Milton Keynes: 10 Ml/d;

Newport Pagnell: <1 Ml/d;

Woburn: 1 Ml/d.

The main sector types which make up this demand include public administrative, manufacturing, wholesale and agriculture.

Almost all of Anglian Water’s non-household customers pay for their water on the basis of how much they have used. AWB provides a range of services to help its business customers ensure they are using water efficiently. Its smart metering service is one of these (see Box 5.1). Businesses in Milton Keynes should be further encouraged to make full use of these services.

33 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/household/water-meters/switchback-guarantee/

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Box 5.1: Smart metering34 Smart metering means that readings can be taken from the water meter wirelessly, as often as every 15 minutes. AWB offers a service to its business customers where it will install smart water meters around the premises and take automatic readings. The customer is then able to view their water use through the WaterSmart website, which analyses the data for them. The scheme is beneficial to customers because they will be able to see whether there are any gradual or sudden increases in water use which can show where there might be a leak or where working practices are not as efficient as they could be. The business can understand and control its water use, saving money.

Leakage

Leaks waste a lot of water. They can go undetected and if not fixed might lead to bursts. Many customers are concerned about leaks and would like to see that Anglian Water is doing its bit to address this.

Leakage control is a big part of demand management. According to its latest Water Resources Management Plan, Anglian Water is planning to spend millions of pounds to reduce leakage from 211 Ml/d to 172 Ml/d by 2020 across its entire supply region. This amounts to a water saving of 39 Ml/d.

Anglian Water fixes leaks by finding and fixing both those that are visible and those that are hidden. It plans to reach its leakage target by:

Continuing to invest in resources to detect and repair leaks, as well as inspect and maintain the water networks;

Replacing pipes and water mains where they have the highest leakage rates;

Improving water pressure management where necessary to stop leaks happening in the first place;

Using smart metering to detect leaks on customers’ property;

Developing improved systems to monitor leakage and identify where action needs to be taken to reduce leakage.

Not all leaks are the responsibility of Anglian Water. In some cases it is up to the customer to get a leak fixed (see Box 5.2). By raising awareness of this, people can take action to check for leaks and get them fixed should they find one on their property.

Box 5.2: When leaks are the responsibility of the customer

Sometimes a leak may occur on the supply pipe to a customer’s property and it is the customer’s responsibility to fix it. Anglian Water has produced a leaflet on leaks and how to fix them35. It sets out whether the leak is the responsibility of Anglian Water or whether the property owner must get the leak fixed.

Having a water meter installed will make it easier to spot a leak, for example if there are any sudden increases in water use. However, there are ways of detecting leaks in unmetered properties too, which Anglian Water explains in the leaflet and on its website36.

34 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/business/business-services/smart-metering.aspx 35 Anglian Water (2014b) 36 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/household/water-supply/leakage/checking-for-leaks.aspx

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2.5. The wider environment Objective: to improve awareness of how water use affects the wider environment

Many people are unaware of the impact their water use in the home or at work has on the wider environment. This is a key area in which to increase awareness and encourage the efficient use of water. Placing emphasis on the value of water to the environment and community can help to reduce the risk of any impacts from drought.

To do this, people should get to know where their water supply comes from. They should have the information available to them so that they are aware of what the implications are for local rivers, lakes, groundwater and hydrologically dependent sites, particularly during hot, dry periods.

Notes from the Citizen Lab One issue raised at the Citizen Lab was that some people think there is an endless supply of water. They aren’t aware of where it comes from and its role in the environment and therefore it is not an immediate concern to them.

During drier periods, there is not much extra water available from the sources that supply Milton Keynes. This can put pressure on the environment and may lead to environmental damage.

The Ruthamford South water resource zone gets its water supply from a mix of surface water and groundwater sources. The surface water comes from the River Ouse. The groundwater comes from the Lower Greensand aquifer.

According to the abstraction licensing strategy for the Upper Ouse and Bedford Ouse (which sets out how water resources are managed in the area)37, the main pressure in the area is abstraction for public water supply. Of the total surface water abstracted in the catchment, around 81% is for Anglian Water abstractions, with the majority coming from the River Great Ouse at Offord to fill Grafham Water reservoir. The remaining surface water abstractions are mainly for agriculture.

The catchment abstraction licensing strategy shows that at moderate and low flows, there is either restricted water available for licensing, or water is not available for licensing at all, i.e. no further consumptive abstraction licences will be granted. This assessment is based on the environmental requirements for water and how much is licensed for abstraction. It indicates the possible pressures on the environment in the catchment during drier periods.

Along with the chalk aquifer, the Greensand aquifer is the most heavily used groundwater source in the Upper Ouse and Bedford Ouse area. According to the Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy resource availability assessment, water in the Greensand aquifer is not available for licensing. This means that no further consumptive abstraction licences will be granted. In the area there are a few sites which are under investigation because abstractions may be causing environmental damage and problems under the Water Framework Directive. Depending on the findings, the Environment Agency may need to change or revoke existing abstraction licences to ensure that the regime is sustainable38.

37 Environment Agency (2013) 38 Environment Agency (2013)

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Box 6.1: Communities are not ‘connected’ to their water supply39 According to Waterwise research, one of the barriers to improving domestic water efficiency is that generally people are disconnected from their water use at the community level. This may be because they do not think about it or do not understand the impacts. To address this, Waterwise came up with the following solutions:

Teach children about water use and local water resources from a young age, by including water efficiency in the school curriculum.

Provide plaques at rivers and water bodies which explain where the water has come from, how it is affected by abstraction and the actions that people can take to do their bit to protect the environment.

Highlight the status of local resources, such as rivers, lakes and groundwater, in communications from water companies. This information might be included in water bills, for example, helping to reinforce the link between water use and the local environment.

Anglian Water has a number of environmental projects where it works to protect and enhance wildlife across its supply area. These projects include40:

Water for Wildlife, a long-running project which helps wildlife and maintains water quality.

RiverCare, an initiative that brings together various community groups and neighbourhoods with the aim of improving the local river environment.

Specific conservation projects on individual species, including those to reintroduce species such as the osprey and the pool frog back into the region.

Water friendly gardens at Grafham Water Visitors centre, which provide an opportunity for people to see how they can create a water and wildlife friendly garden using drought-tolerant plants.

Continuing to promote these projects will help people understand the value of water to the environment.

Nearby to Milton Keynes there are a number of protected sites which have a high level of environmental importance. These are known as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). These protected sites are sensitive to abstraction because they are dependent on the levels of water in the environment41. They include Flitwick Moor, an important wetland; Stevington Marsh, adjacent to the River Great Ouse; as well as Grafham Water.

There are also Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas downstream of Milton Keynes which are hydrologically linked to the River Great Ouse and have a very high level of protection under European law. These sites include Portholme, a lowland meadow; the Ouse Washes, an area in the Fens which is important for wildfowl; and the Wash, a large shallow bay on the east coast of England.

Anglian Water also has a Biodiversity Action Plan and works with environmental charities such as the Wildlife Trusts to manage valuable wildlife sites. Encouraging people to volunteer with these organisations will further improve awareness of the impacts of water use on the local environment. It’s important to encourage businesses to do their bit for the local environment too (see Box 6.2).

39 Waterwise and UKWRIP (2014) 40 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/environment/our-commitment/our-projects/ 41 Environment Agency (2013)

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Box 6.2: Business awards Anglian Water recently launched its We Love What You Do Business Awards to reward business customers where they have made a difference in the areas of water and environmental management42.

One of the categories is ‘Environmental Improvement’ which recognises the work of businesses in reducing their impact on the local environment. The ‘Leadership’ category is awarded to an individual or company that demonstrates a total commitment to environmental responsibility.

3. Water Monitor and Garden Monitor 3.1. Water Monitor

3.1.1. About Water Monitor

The Water Monitor website was designed to provide registered users with accessible and easy-to-use information about their water consumption. It included information on how water use might be reduced, so that users could see how much they could save by trying some simple ways to reduce their water use. They could also see how their water use compared to that of other households.

In addition to the hints and tips on how water use might be reduced, Water Monitor included a blog and FAQ pages, available to all visitors to the website, as well as user profile and usage pages which were only accessible to registered users once they had logged in. Figure 3.1 shows the user profile page of Water Monitor.

42 http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/business/business-awards.aspx

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Figure 3.1: Water Monitor user profile page

The website worked by accessing data on water use hosted in the MK Data Hub and catalogued by a property reference number. It cross-referenced the property reference number with customer account numbers to provide registered users with the water use associated with their household account.

Water Monitor was decommissioned at the end of the trial. A video demonstration of the website in use is provided on You Tube43.

3.1.2. The Water Monitor trial

Water Monitor was tested during a trial period with selected households in the Broughton and Broughton Gate areas of Milton Keynes. These areas were selected because they of their relatively new housing developments, meaning that all of the households have water meters installed. Data was collected as part of the trial in two ways:

1. Weekly manual collection of visual meter readings;

2. Automated radio transmission of readings with long range wireless sensors, LoRa sensors, that take 24 readings in 24 hours.

Households were recruited to take part in the Water Monitor trial using a variety of communications approaches, which are set out in the communications plan. These included: 43 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSLxKi-DW5U

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A letter from Anglian Water, sent to all households in the area;

Posters advertising the trial, put up on community noticeboards;

A door-knocking campaign in the area carried out by Community Action: MK;

A postcard about the trial, delivered to households who were unable to answer the door during the door-knocking campaign;

Advertising of the trial using Twitter feeds.

A total of 112 households participated in the visual meter reading trial, and 12 of these households also participated in the LoRa trial. Anglian Water carried out the manual water meeting readings for the full trial period, from July to December 2016, and fitted the LoRa sensors. A free water audit to all participating households was also offered by Anglian Water, which was taken up by six households. During the audit, a member of the water saving team from Anglian Water visited the household to offer advice on where water could be saved, and where water saving devices could be fitted. The devices offered free of charge to the households included dual flush converters, shower timers, hosepipe guns and tap inserts.

3.1.3. Results of the Water Monitor trial

Following completion of the trial, participating households were given the opportunity to provide feedback via an online questionnaire. Of the 112 households that participated in the visual meter reading trial, 44 (39%) completed the questionnaire, and of those participating in the LoRa trial, 8 of the 12 households (67%) completed the questionnaire. Usability of the website, changes in water use behaviour, and demographics of the household were all covered in the questionnaire. The feedback from the questionnaire was analysed together with the water use data of the households participating in the trial to see whether access to smart water meter data had any influence on reducing household water use.

The data from the water use of the participating households suggests a very modest saving in average household water consumption during the trial. Based on visual meter reading data, the average household consumption prior to the trial44 was 0.314 m3/day. During the trial, this decreased slightly to 0.310 m3/day. This saving of 4 litres/day is equivalent to less than one toilet flush a day. Using information provided by the households on the number of people living in their household, the average per capita consumption could be calculated. Prior to the trial, it was 117 litres/person/day, and during the trial, this decreased to 110 litres/ person/day.

During the Water Monitor trial, water leaks were identified at two of the participating properties where the water use was extremely high. One of the properties had a water use of 20 times more than their usual weekly usage, while the other property’s was 40 times more than their usual weekly usage. These properties are shown in green and red in Figure 3.2. By having access to weekly meeting readings, these leaks could be identified more quickly than they would have been had the households not participated in the Water Monitor trial. This shows how useful it is to have regular access to data on water use, as without this information the leaks may not have been picked up until the next meter reading for billing purposes, normally carried out twice a year. Enabling customers to find leaks in their own homes is an excellent way of reducing demand without requiring any significant behaviour change (see Section 2.4 for more information on leakage).

44 Based on six-monthly readings provided by Anglian Water from, at the earliest, 2007 to 2016, where data is available

for the account holder.

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Figure 3.2: Weekly water use for all properties involved in the Water Monitor visual meter reading trial

The trial participants were asked in the feedback questionnaire whether, and in what ways, they changed their water use behaviour either temporarily or permanently. Of the 44 households that completed the questionnaire, 45% said that their behaviour has permanently changed as a result of the trial, 14% said that their behaviour has temporarily changed, and 41% said that their behaviour did not change at all.

These responses were compared to the changes in water use based on the data from the visual meter readings. For those respondents that said their behaviour has permanently changed, 60% showed an average decrease in water use, while 40% showed an average increase in water use. For those that said their behaviour has temporarily changed, 50% showed a decrease in water use, and 50% an increase in water use. Of the respondents that said their behaviour did not change at all, 44% showed a decrease in water use, and 56% an increase in water use.

Table 3.1 shows the average changes in water use based on the visual meter readings. The biggest decreases in water use were made by those respondents who said that their behaviour has permanently changed, at 0.110 m3/household/day or 0.051 m3/person/day. This suggests that there is some level of awareness of changes in water use, despite there not being a direct match between how much water respondents thought they used and how much water they actually used. No single household activity was found to be responsible for the reduction in water use of the respondents who said that their behaviour had changed.

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Table 3.1: Water use behaviour change of questionnaire respondents

Behaviour has

permanently changed Behaviour has

temporarily changed Behaviour did not

change at all

Visual meter readings

Average decrease in water use

0.110 m3/household/day 0.051 m3/person/day

0.036 m3/household/day 0.011 m3/person/day

0.070 m3/household/day 0.044 m3/person/day

Average increase in water use

0.047 m3/household/day 0.019 m3/person/day

0.157 m3/household/day 0.032 m3/person/day

0.048 m3/household/day 0.021 m3/person/day

Further key findings from the questionnaire include:

Of those participants who said that their behaviour changed:

40% said they tried to use less water;

27% said they spent more time thinking about how much water they were using;

23% said they encouraged others in their household to use less water;

10% installed water saving devices.

30% of participants who completed the questionnaire said that simply taking part in the trial was the biggest influence on their behaviour, while 26% said it was the data provided on Water Monitor.

40% of participants who completed the questionnaire said that they would have a smaller water bill as a result of their change in behaviour, while 32% said that they used less energy, so their energy bills would be lower.

69% of participants who completed the questionnaire said that they found the trial either a positive or very positive experience (the remaining 31% said that it was neither positive nor negative).

83% of participants who completed the questionnaire said that they would be interested in taking part in future trials on monitoring water use.

3.2. Garden Monitor Garden Monitor is an app that tells you when you should water your garden. Wang et al. (2016) developed Garden Monitor to support users to water their gardens more efficiently, and therefore reduce the amount of water that is wasted while watering the garden45.

Garden Monitor works by forecasting the soil moisture in a garden over the coming 10 days, using data from a variety of sources and learning a customised model for that garden. It users sensors to measure the amount of moisture in the soil, and it also checks the weather forecast, finding out whether any rain is expected and how warm it might be. The app then produces a customised calendar which advises users when they may need to water their garden, making use of a watering can icon to highlight the status of the soil moisture in the garden.

The effectiveness, usefulness, usability and performance of Garden Monitor was tested during a user trial in which eight households in Milton Keynes took part. All of the users had a strong interest in managing their water use more efficiently. The trial took place from July to October 2016. The participants were provided

45 Wang et al. (2016)

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with sensors and assistance to install them in their gardens, and instructed to download and check Garden Monitor on a regular basis, and each time before watering.

The trial participants were then asked to complete a questionnaire. This was used to evaluate the value, usefulness and usability of Garden Monitor, while the data collected during the trial was used to assess the accuracy and performance of the app. The results of the questionnaire suggest that Garden Monitor could be used to efficiently reduce the amount of water that is wasted, because the participants used less water during the trial than in previous years, whilst still maintaining healthy conditions for their gardens. Garden Monitor was also shown to have played an important part in deciding when to water, as most of the users checked the app first. The participants also learnt about the watering needs and soil moisture conditions in their gardens.

The usability of Garden Monitor could be characterised as good, with the results of the questionnaire also suggesting that the app is fairly easy to use. The data collected during the trial showed that the Garden Monitor engine performed accurately, as it is able to produce good predictions of soil moisture values.

4. Conclusion This document has outlined five main principles of sustainable water use and the measures and approaches that may help Milton Keynes to grow as a smart city. It has also summarised the findings from the other activities completed as part of the MK:Smart Water work package.

Principles of sustainable water use

The five main principles that will encourage and improve water efficiency and support the sustainable growth of Milton Keynes are:

Understanding water use: to get a better idea of where water can be saved, it is first useful to know how much water is used in total and for different activities. There are various ways of doing this. Anglian Water has produced a simple table that helps a household work out its daily use. This lists how many litres each activity uses at a time, which can be multiplied by how often it is done in one day. People can also work out their household water use by using the Energy Saving Trust’s Water Energy Calculator.

Water-efficient behaviour: it is essential to provide advice on how to be more water efficient and raise awareness of the benefits. While the financial incentives for water efficiency around the home can be weak, there are many other benefits that can be publicised more widely. For example, being more water efficient can save energy, reduce carbon emissions, save money for those properties that are metered, and protect the natural environment. Activities include having shorter showers, only washing full loads of laundry, and using a watering can to water the garden instead of a sprinkler.

Water-efficient technology: the installation of water-efficient products is an easy and often cheap way of saving water. Devices can be fitted to existing appliances, or new efficient appliances can be installed. This might include, for example, installing a dual-flush converter, efficient showerhead, tap inserts, or a water butt. Householders should also be encouraged to consider the efficiency of their domestic appliances, as there are plenty of water and energy efficient models available to purchase. In larger commercial and industrial properties, there may be the option of installing rainwater harvesting or greywater reuse systems.

Metering and leakage: metering can reduce water use, as households only want to pay for what they use and it reinforces the message to be water efficient. Installing a water meter at a property can also help to detect any leaks on the supply pipe, should there be any unusually high consumption. Leakage

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control is a big part of demand management. According to its latest Water Resources Management Plan, Anglian Water is planning to spend millions of pounds to reduce leakage across its supply region. However, not all leaks are the responsibility of Anglian Water, and in some cases it is up to the customer to get a leak fixed.

The wider environment: many people are unaware of the impact their water use in the home or at work has on the wider environment. This is a key area in which to increase awareness and encourage the efficient use of water. Placing emphasis on the value of water to the environment and community can help to reduce the risk of any impacts from drought. To do this, people should get to know where their water supply comes from. They should have the information available to them so that they are aware of what the implications are for local rivers, lakes, groundwater and hydrologically dependent sites.

Water Monitor A website called Water Monitor was developed as part of the Water work package. This was designed to

provide registered users with accessible and easy-to-use information about their water consumption. Water Monitor was trialled by selected households in the Broughton and Broughton Gate areas of Milton Keynes to see whether access to smart water meter data had any influence on reducing household water use. A total of 112 households participated in the weekly visual meter reading trial, and 12 of these households also participated in a trial using long range wireless sensors, LoRa sensors.

The water use data of the participating households suggests a very modest saving in average household water consumption during the Water Monitor trial. Leaks were identified at two of the participating properties where the water use was extremely high, which shows how useful it is to have regular access to data on water use, as without this information the leaks may not have been picked up until the next meter reading for billing purposes.

A total of 44 households completed the feedback questionnaire on the Water Monitor trial. Of these, 45% said that their behaviour has permanently changed as a result of the trial, 14% said that their behaviour has temporarily changed, and 41% said that their behaviour did not change at all.

These responses from the questionnaire were compared to the changes in water use based on the data from the visual meter readings. The biggest decreases in water use were made by those respondents who said that their behaviour has permanently changed, which suggests that there is some level of awareness of changes in water use.

Garden Monitor An app called Garden Monitor was developed, which tells you when you should water your garden46.

Garden Monitor works by forecasting the soil moisture in a garden over the coming 10 days, using data from a variety of sources, including sensors to measure soil moisture.

Garden Monitor was tested by eight households in Milton Keynes as part of a user trial. The results of the trial show that Garden Monitor has good usability, is fairly easy to use, performs accurately, and can be used to efficiently reduce the amount of water that is wasted.

School kits School kits were provided to three schools in Milton Keynes to help children learn about how they can

reduce the amount of water they use and why this is important. The kits included a water meter, a hand held reader, and lesson plans on water efficiency.

46 Wang et al. (2016)

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This document has shown that there are many activities that can be carried out to improve water efficiency, many of which are cheap and easy to do. With Milton Keynes being in one of the driest parts of the country, and the significant growth expected in the city over the next few years, it is essential that the water supplies of Milton Keynes are managed carefully.

5. References Anglian Water (2013a) Love Every Drop: how everyone, together, can each drop 20 litres of water a day.

Anglian Water (2013b) Shaping our future: in detail. Our draft strategy and plan for 2015 - 2020 and beyond.

Anglian Water (2014a) Water Resources Management Plan 2015. Available at: http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/_assets/media/WRMP_2015.pdf

Anglian Water (2014b) Your water supply pipe: leaks and how to fix them.

Browne, A.L., Pullinger, M., Medd, W. and Anderson, B. (2013) Patterns of water: Resource pack. Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.

Counsell, C., Hall, E. and Ledbetter, R. (2015) CCRA2: Updated projections of water availability for the UK. A research report by HR Wallingford for the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2, Adaptation Sub Committee, London.

Energy Saving Trust and Waterwise UK (2011) Combining Water and Energy Efficiency.

Energy Saving Trust (2013) At Home with Water.

Environment Agency (2013) The Upper Ouse and Bedford Ouse Abstraction Licensing strategy. A licensing strategy to manage water resources sustainably.

Wang, P., Osborne, F., Basile, G., Salatino, A.A. and Motta, E. (2016) Garden Monitor: Using machine learning to promote efficient watering behaviour in domestic gardens. PACM Interact. Mob. Wearable Ubiquitous Technol. 1, 1, Article 1, January 2016, 15 pages.

Waterwise and UKWRIP (2014) Water efficient house of the future: UKWRIP workshop.

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FS 516431EMS 558310OHS 595357

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HR Wallingford is an independent engineering and environmental hydraulics organisation. We deliver practical solutions to the complex water-related challenges faced by our international clients. A dynamic research programme underpins all that we do and keeps us at the leading edge. Our unique mix of know-how, assets and facilities includes state of the art physical modelling laboratories, a full range of numerical modelling tools and, above all, enthusiastic people with world-renowned skills and expertise.