Climate change: briefing paper
5 July 2007
The water industry is at the forefront of climate change as our raw material is directly dependent on the natural environment. By understanding our energy consumption and through carbon management we are seeking to reduce the contribution to climate change from our activities. At the same time we are incorporating in our business and investment plans, as fully and cost-effectively as possible, current and future impacts of climate change.
How climate change impacts on the water industry
Climate change means that we are likely to experience an increase in the intensity, severity and frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts, storms and floods.
Extreme droughts cause adverse effects on water environments, creating not only a water shortage problem but a larger environmental issue as well. The discharge of treated wastewater effluent into rivers with low flows means that less dillution takes place than would under normal conditions. Water quality and availability are closely linked, so lower quality also means there is less water available for abstraction.
Intense rainfall results in surface flooding rather than infiltration to underground aquifers. Water quality problems arise through surface water run-off carrying pollutants from land and transferring them into rivers and lakes. This is called diffuse pollution. While diffuse pollution occurs under normal conditions, it is intensified during storms and flooding events.
How the water industry impacts on climate change
The water industry is energy intensive and consumes about 2-3% of total energy used in the UK. Most of this is used to pump water and wastewater and to run treatment plants that ensure our water meets strict environmental and health quality standards. The water industry works with government, regulators and stakeholders to strike a balance between achieving these quality standards and reducing energy consumption to mitigate the impacts of climate change. This is a major challenge the industry is facing.
The industry is responsible for approximately five million tonnes of greenhouse gas emission (CO2 equivalent) every year. That’s less than 1% of total UK emissions but is rising gradually year on year. On the one hand we’re getting more efficient at abstracting, treating and supplying water and wastewater , on the other hand population and consumption growth, along with more stringent standards, are driving energy use up.
The industry is working on ways to improve how we measure our carbon footprint – this needs to be consistent across the industry. Companies are producing or implementing carbon management plans that will take this into consideration.
Mitigation
Activities to mitigate impacts include energy efficiency projects, increasing then recycling of biosolids (sewage sludge) to land and using renewable sources of energy such as wind power, combined heat and power (CHP) and biofuels. Renewable energy use is increasing and stands at about 14%, about half of which is generated on-site.
Adaptation
Companies are adapting their business and investment plans to minimise the effect of climate change. We are building knowledge and capacity within the industry to take account of the impacts of climate change on existing infrastructure, assets and operations, and modelling a range of different scenarios. There is a great deal of activity focused on the management of water resources and measures from improved water efficiency, leakage management and developing new resources.
A collaborative approach involving government, regulators, stakeholders and water companies themselves is essential to coordinate a consistent and effective approach to slow climate change.
Bruce Horton, Climate Change Policy Adviser
020 7344 1817
