In November 2008, our supply area across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was officially recognised by the Government as an area of serious water stress.

We are therefore looking to install water meters across the region to help conserve supplies of this precious resource while giving customers control of their water bills.

We believe that metering is the fairest way to charge because customers pay for the amount of water they use.

It is also good for the environment because customers become more aware of how they use water and are therefore less likely to waste it.

This, in turn, leads to a reduction in the demand for water and helps our carbon footprint by saving energy used to pump it.

Customers can also help their own carbon footprints through reduced consumption and use of energy to heat water in their homes, saving money as well as carbon dioxide emissions.

We are planning to install more than 400,000 meters by 2015, concentrating on the most water-stressed regions first.