Perth and Kinross councillors question Scottish Government survey which suggests people should drink less water

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Perth and Kinross councillors have questioned the wording of a government survey which seems to suggest people should drink less water.Elected members suggested it went against public health advice and called for the council to change its initial answer which agreed "that everyone in Scotland needs to use less drinking water".On Wednesday, February 7, Perth and Kinross Council's Environment, Infrastructure and Economic Development Committee was asked to consider its draft response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on water, wastewater and drainage.Eyebrows were raised as to whether the government was suggesting people should drink less water.Question three of the Water, Wastewater and Drainage Policy Consultation survey asked: "To what extent do you agree or disagree that everyone in Scotland needs to use less drinking water?"Independent councillor Colin Stewart questioned why PKC had responded "agree" to this question.Mark Butterworth, head of environmental and consumer services, said: "I think generally speaking the more drinking water you use the more that needs to be processed, etc.

I think that's just simply a comment around [using] less drinking water less impact on the environment I would say."Cllr Stewart responded: "I think with climate change there's more rain and more drinking water available so surely we should be drinking more of it to help solve the problem?"Mr Butterworth highlighted that "as well as periods of excessive rainfall there are periods of excessive drought".Question four of the survey also asked: "How do you think people and businesses could use less drinking water?"Vice-convener SNP councillor Jack Welch agreed with Cllr Stewart that it was "poorly worded".He said: "I think it's poorly