EVERY home and business in the region could have a water meter installed as part of plans to cut usage in the Westcountry.

The idea forms part of a proposed strategy from the Environment Agency aimed at reducing demand by almost a fifth to help alleviate possible future water shortages.

Despite having some of the highest water charges in the UK, the Westcountry is being urged to accept universal metering for water supplies and to use less.

Figures from the Environment Agency show homes in the region with water meters consume as much as 30 litres of water per person per day less than those without meters.

At present more than 60 per cent of homes and businesses in the South West Water area already have their water supply metered, but the idea of universal metering has not been welcomed by some.

The Environment Agency says it wants to cut usage per person by around 20 litres a day and claims meters are necessary due to the effects of climate change and population growth.

But Bernard O'Neil, spokesman for the Devon and Cornwall Pensioners' Convention, said metering was not suitable for every household.

He said: "This 'one size fits all' approach is not what we want, we need to think about how meters are used instead. We don't want a situation where people are frightened to turn on the tap as some elderly people are with gas and electric in the winter months.

"For some, metering may be more cost effective for them than the standard rate currently charged but not necessarily for everyone. I certainly would not want to see universal water metering imposed on households here or anywhere."

The Environment Agency has set out a number of measures that it wants implemented in order to help protect water resources for the next 40 years and beyond. As well as water meters for all households, the agency wants a complete review of the structure of the water industry, plus action to reduce water consumption to reduce carbon emissions.

The proposals for the Westcountry are contained in the Environment Agency's Water Resources Strategy for England and Wales. Over the coming months, the agency says it will be speaking to its partners in the area, such as South West Water, to devise a Regional Action Plan. And, according to the Government body, this plan should then provide the framework for any long-term strategy for the region.

The Environment Agency has said water supplies in this region will come under increasing pressure in the future.

It has also said water shortages will not just impact on people and business but will also affect wetland habitats and wildlife. It states about 60 per cent of all water supplied to homes and businesses in the region comes from sites designated as vulnerable or endangered habitats for plants, animals and birds. As a result, if too much water is taken from these areas, it says it could have a detrimental impact on plant and animal species.

On average, each person in the region currently uses between 156 to 183 litres of water per day, according to Environment Agency figures.

For homes with meters the figures are between 130 and 150 litres per person per day but for homes without water meters it is between 150 and 160 litres.

The agency said there was an opportunity to plan well now to ensure increased demand can be met whilst also protecting the environment.

Richard Cresswell, regional director for the Environment Agency in the South West, said: "Water is essential for life and vital to our economy. In the future, climate change and population growth may mean that we won't always have enough water to meet the needs of all the people, businesses and the environment.

"We must take this opportunity to plan for the future and think about how we can all use water more efficiently. The Environment Agency is committed to working with a wide range of organisations in the region to secure water supplies and protect the environment for future generations."

Mr Cresswell said climate change will inevitably have a major impact on just how much water there is available for us to use. He added that although climate change will lead to more frequent, heavy downpours and increase the risk of flooding, overall river flows in the region may be reduced in the critical summer months.

He said predictions showed a potential significant reduction in river flows may begin early in the summer in the South West region and could extend into autumn.

Paul Conium, spokesman for South West Water, said that 70 per cent of homes in the region would be on water meters by 2010.

However, he said that there were no plans by the water company to impose universal metering for supplies across the region.