The greenhouse gas implication of future water resources options study analyses the carbon impact of water companies and also household water usage in the UK. The report outlines how different water supply schemes and options to help customers reduce water compare in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. It shows how the water industry and householders can significantly reduce these emissions through smarter energy and water use.
The findings from this report are also good news for household utility bills.
In the face of rising energy prices, water metering alone could reduce customers' water and energy bills by between £40 and £160 per year.
In 2006/07, the water industry produced five million tonnes of greenhouse gases.
This means that the 23 companies making up the water industry were responsible for about 0.8 per cent of the annual UK greenhouse gas emissions.
In comparison, the use of hot water in homes for activities such as personal use, household washing, cooking and cleaning amounts to around 35 million tonnes of greenhouse gases per year. This is seven times as much as that emitted by the water industry and amounts to over 5.5 per cent of total UK emissions.
Water companies are now required for the first time to include the cost of greenhouse gas emissions in their water resource management plans and to give details of annual emissions associated with their water supply activities.
For more information, visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk
