来源：《每日电讯报》
原文刊登日期：2022年2月19日
It is a source of amazement to some people that a country known for its relatively wet climate can occasionally run short of water. But utility companies quite regularly feel obliged to impose outdoor water-use restrictions after hot, dry spells, particularly in the South East. There has also been a push to encourage people to introduce water-saving devices into their homes.
一个以相对湿润的气候著称的国家有时会缺水，这让一些人感到惊讶。但是，在炎热干燥的天气之后，公用事业公司经常感到有必要对室外用水进行限制，尤其是在东南部。此外，还推动鼓励人们将节水设备引入家庭。
Few would disagree that we have a responsibility not to waste water. However, they would also expect utility firms to put their own houses in order before asking their customers to make sacrifices.
很少有人会不同意我们有责任不浪费水。然而，他们也希望公用事业公司在要求客户做出牺牲之前先把自己的事情做好。
That does not always appear to be the case. Several extra areas have been declared by the Government to be at risk of running dry. This means that companies in those areas will be permitted to oblige households to install a water meter or face punitive tariffs.
但情况似乎并非总是如此。政府已经宣布，有几个额外的地区有干涸的危险。这意味着这些地区的公司将被允许强制家庭安装水表，否则将面临惩罚性收费。
However, an estimated fifth of water supplies are lost to leaks every day. Since the water companies were privatised, billions of pounds of investment have been poured into the country’s water infrastructure, and the number of leaks has fallen. But clearly much more must be done. The Public Accounts Committee has accused the Government and the regulator Ofwat of taking “their eye off the ball” to enable “wholly unacceptable” levels of leaks in England.
然而，据估计，每天有五分之一的水因渗漏而流失。自从水务公司私有化以来，国家的水务基础设施投入了数十亿英镑的投资，漏水的数量也有所减少。但显然还有很多工作要做。英国公共账目委员会指责政府和英国水务监管局“疏于关注”，导致英国出现了“完全不可接受”的泄漏水平。
Some households will be perfectly happy to have a water meter installed. Others will want to keep their current arrangements. Compulsion is not justified. The country needs a much more serious debate about how to ensure the security of its supply, without contemplating punishing people for using the water they need.
一些家庭会非常乐意安装水表。其他家庭则希望保持现状。强迫是没有道理的。英国需要就如何确保供水安全展开更严肃的辩论，而不是考虑惩罚使用所需水的人。