Water and Wildlife

The recent report that householders in the UK may have to pay around £30 extra per year for water on top of other increased costs of living such as food and fuel(http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/12/water.wildlife) is being interpreted in some quarters as largely an economics question. The increases are, however, largely a consequence of the water companies being instructed to limit the amount of water that they take from rivers, aquifers and reservoirs so that it doesn't endanger wildlife (both animals and plants) to quite the same extent by exposure to dessication or clogging with silt. In spite of the heavy rains and flooding in recent summers, water levels in some 'wild' areas have proved to be a recurring problem. Having to source the water from more distant locations or using energy-intensive desalination plants would account for the increased costs. It seems to me that more should be done to reduce wastage via leaks in water pipes (these appears to still be extensive in some parts of the country) and to encourage people to capture and utilise rain water. Human use of water is an increasing problem. Interestingly, the richer the country, the more water per head it seems to require! Virtually everything we do needs gallons of water.