Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

Waterwise really welcomes the adaptation strategy - it is refreshing to see water efficiency at the heart of adaptation plans. It is often overlooked in favour of flood risk management, but will be essential across the economy. Waterwise supports all the measures set out in the strategy. In addition, we suggest the following:An increase in water-efficiency retrofitting will help develop the low-carbon economy in both services jobs and UK manfuacturing of water-efficient products. This could be explicitly referenced in the strategy.Water-efficient procurement is an extremely important part of adaptation: tight mandatory standards should be set for public sector procurment in London for water-efficient taps, toilets, showers, urinals, dishwashers and washing machines. These should reflect the best (not average) currrrently available on the market, and should be regularly updated.The reference to adaptation measures insurance companies may in future wish to reflect in their premiums should include water efficiency retrofitting measures.Finally, the accompaying mitigation strategy does not reflect the importance of water efficiency measures to mitigation. The steps are being taken (for example through the HEEP, which will include hot and cold water retrofitting) and are listed in this adaptation strategy, but need also to be reflected in the mitigation strategy.