Waterwise: modest water use cut would deliver significant carbon saving

Modest reductions to water consumption could help deliver significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, a new Waterwise briefing paper asserts.

Waterwise research found that around 6% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions are from household water supply and use. This equates to over 2.6 kg CO2e per home per day. Approximately 90% of these emissions relate to household water use; the rest are emissions from water companies supplying water and treating wastewater.

According to the paper, a modest water use cut on 5-6% could save 1.3 MtCO2e, more than was actually achieved in the whole UK housing sector in 2017-18 or in 2018-19. A 10-12% cut would save 2.4 MtCO2e, a similar amount to the total operational emissions of the whole UK water sector.

Waterwise called for awareness of the water/carbon link to be raised; for underpinning data to be updated (it dates to 2008-10); and for better join up in the delivery of energy and water efficiency in terms of new build design, retrofitting existing buildings and provision of advice.