Water UK

Driving sustainability in the water industry

17/11/08

Sustainable Water: State of the Water Sector Report is the first report of its kind. It addresses the question: is the sector becoming more sustainable? There is, of course, no simple answer, but in examining this question, the report identifies what has been driving success over the past five years.

It also identifies barriers or challenges that will help water companies, policy makers and others set priorities for the future.

State of the Water Sector Report

Additional water company case studies

Sustainability Indicators 2007-08 is an annual report showing how the water industry is performing in a range of areas essential for sustainability. The report demonstrates the industry’s commitment to continued high-quality provision of its essential services in a sustainable way, recognising and addressing the important role it has in areas related to the environment, communities and society in general.

In the future, pressures of continued growth, increasing statutory and regulatory requirements, affordability and climate change will make this commitment even more challenging.

Sustainability Indicators 2007-08

Revising the indicators

Pamela Taylor, Chief Executive, said:

"Many organisations aspire to be sustainable, but this is no easy task. So it is important that industry, governments and all stakeholders work together to identify, discuss, agree and guide each other on the right approach. Sometimes this means taking stock to examine if we are moving in the right direction, before moving forward again. That is why we are launching these two reports today."

Ends

For more information please contact:

Bruce Horton

Karen Thompson

Notes

The information in both reports has been provided by all 23 of Water UK’s member companies, which are the statutory water and wastewater service providers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sustainable Water: State of the Water Sector Report

The water industry has made some progress in many areas. Rivers, lakes and bathing waters are cleaner and safer than at any time since the Industrial Revolution began.

There has been massive investment over the past 20 years, and big strides in efficiency, without significant impacts on affordability for most.

The report also highlights examples of change and innovation from across the industry, showing how companies are identifying sustainable solutions and putting these into action.

The report highlights a number of particular challenges that we will all need to consider in the future, including:

 • To reduce the amount of water society wastes. This means all of us working together to raise awareness, communicate better and take effective action.

 • To reduce incidents of sewer flooding. This will be particularly challenging against a backdrop of population growth, and predictions of more frequent heavy rainfall events in future.

 • To reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. Current trends show that growth and pressure to deliver a cleaner environment are pushing companies to use more, not less, energy.

 • How to address all of the above, while continuing to improve network quality and performance.

 • Perhaps most crucially, maintaining affordable water services.

Sustainability Indicators 2007-08

This is the first annual report to use a revised and streamlined suite of indicators focusing on the key aspects of sustainability performance for the industry.

The robustness and reliability of the information has been improved compared to previous years, and the information presented is more closely linked to the most relevant sustainability issues for the sector.

The indicators provide detail about the industry as a whole, and (in some areas) specific information about companies, comparing these to previous years where appropriate.

A number of new, or substantially revised, indicators have been included for the first time. For each indicator, information is provided on why we are reporting in this area, what the information tells us, and which key issues have been (or need to be) addressed.

The report shows the industry is making good progress in a number of areas, including drinking water and environmental standards, leakage and sewer flooding. However, there are still many challenges to address, such as interruptions to supply, energy use and retaining a skilled workforce.

Water companies, regulators, policy makers and others will be able to use the information in the report to help guide future industry-related policy and planning.