It’s been a big thing in the UK today: in some parts of South Eastern England the installation of water meters might become compulsuory. About time too! I can’t understand what all the fuss is about. It’s inherently sensible: the UK’s water supply situation is untenable, this winter has been extremely dry, and water meters tend to make people conscious of how much water that they use. Justin – my flatmate – protested that this would be socially destructive – it would penalise poor households most. Is that the best opposition we can find? Get real. We can’t use water meters (or the lack of them) to address the fact that the UK is a horribly unequal society where families cannot pay for basic utilities.

Oh, and while we are at it, can we maybe make mixer taps and water saving toilets compulsuory, and also fine water firms for not repairing leaking pipes? Maybe also give grants for household water recycling systems… Maybe I should not get too carried away – this is the UK after all!