LONG-term plans are being drawn up to ensure there is enough water for the people of Dover.

Folkestone and Dover Water announced proposals yesterday (Wednesday) to deal with the impacts of climate change and a growing population.

A draft 25-year Strategic Direction Statement is being published and the public will be asked for their comments on the plans, which include the need for saving more water and installing meters at all homes and businesses at 2012.

Average daily consumption of water needs to be cut from more than 150 litres a day to 120.

The plans also highlight the priority for using water-saving appliances, investing in new water resources and considering new options, including desalination plants, and the use of grey water.

The difficulties Folkestone and Dover Water Services faces were acknowledged last year when Water Scarcity Status was granted by the Government.

This allowed the company to introduce compulsory metering and managing director David Walton said that long-term planning is essential to ensure a sustainable high-quality water supply for the area.

“We live in one of the driest areas of the country and we have to rely on underground water sources, mainly in chalk and gravel aquifers,” he said.

“We will be following up our 25-year Strategic Direction Statement with more detailed plans.”

“The company has an excellent record on leakage and is now well ahead of leakage reduction targets.

“But we have to go on further to ask how far ultimately we can bring down leakage and how cost effective will this be for customers.

“We also have to look at the reuse and recycling of water.”

n The Strategic Direction Statement can be viewed on the FDWS website www.fdws.co.uk and comments can be sent to enquiries@fdws.co.uk