MEASURES to increase the use of water meters, cut leaks and improve water efficiency have been unveiled as part of plans by Thames Water to prevent severe shortages in the future.

The plans are among a package of proposals for delivering water supplies over the 25 years from 2010 in the face of increased pressure from climate change, rising demand and a growing population.

Much of the area covered by the UK's largest water company is classed as "seriously water stressed", with London, Swindon and parts of Oxfordshire particularly at risk, Thames Water said.

With the population of the area estimated to rise from 8.5 million to 9.7 million by 2034/2035, and 24,800 new households each year in London, the company warned new water resources would be needed.

The UK's largest water supplier said demand from household consumption was set to rise steadily, and warned government aims to reduce daily water use to 130 litres per person by 2030 were unlikely to be met in the Thames area. Water use is around 12 litres per day above the national average of 150 litres.

But the company also said recent consultation with its customers had revealed a "strong desire" for the company to focus on water efficiency education and technology.

Thames Water's statutory draft Water Resources Management Plan includes a 10-year programme of targeted household metering to ensure 50% of homes have their own meter by 2015, rising to 80% by 2020. All buildings connected to the mains water supply will be metered by 2020 under the scheme, Thames Water said.

The company said its highest priority was to cut leaks from the water network, particularly in London where it would continue to replace the outdated and leaky Victorian mains pipes. The current programme, running to 2010, will have reduced leakage levels by around a third, and Thames Water said it was planning a further 24% cut by 2020 to around 520 million litres per day. Currently wastage accounts for 30% of demand, the company's plan said.

To meet rising demand, new proposals include a reservoir in Oxfordshire, research into schemes to re-use effluent as a water supply and aquifer storage and recovery in south London in the next decade.

Thames Water said it would be managing the schemes in an integrated way, so that an area where mains replacement was planned could be targeted for installing water meters and promoting efficiency at the same time.