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STANDPIPES WARNING FROM RURAL GROUP EXPERT

Kent has less available water per person than African countries like Rwanda and Sudan, a new report is warning. 

The Kent branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said future supplies must be ensured through water metering in homes and recycling. 

The report was prepared by CPRE Kent's Graham Warren, a former Environment Agency water-resources manager. 

CPRE Kent said standpipes in the county "could be a reality if radical action is not taken now". 

Its Water Resource Strategy for Kent said water meters should be installed in every home, more recycling of waste water was needed, and large volumes of water should be transferred from other parts of the UK. 

It said that taking into account the amount of rainfall lost through evaporation and floods, Kent was left with "an average 'water availability' per head of about half that of Rwanda, and less than one-third of Sudan's ration". 

Plans to build 122,000 new homes in Kent over the next 20 years would only see the drought situation "severely exacerbated", according to the report.