Revealed: how companies ‘secretly’ use billions of litres of public water in drought-hit England
Summary
Businesses in England use large amounts of public water, with some industries consuming more than the daily water needs of 10 million people. Regulators face challenges tracking water use due to limited data access and commercial secrecy, which affects water planning during a drought affecting much of the country.Key Facts
- Businesses use about 2.6 billion litres of public water daily, around 30% of total public water supply.
- Two-thirds of the water business use occurs in areas experiencing water stress or drought.
- A very small number of companies use water equivalent to the daily needs of 10 million people.
- Large water users include oil refineries, chemical plants, and paper mills.
- ExxonMobil’s Esso refinery at Fawley, Southampton, is reported as the largest single user of public water.
- Some industries are not required to reduce water use despite drought conditions.
- About 10% of businesses are not metered for water use, and only 11% of meters are smart meters that provide detailed data.
- Data sharing between water operators and government agencies is limited due to commercial confidentiality rules.
- Regulators call for mandatory water use reporting to improve water management and security.
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